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SO^tE 



OIjD 



Hoa$Es 

It) Westborougl;, jVtass* 



SOME OLD HOUSES 



IN 



WESTBOROUGH, MASS 



AND THEIR 



OCCUPANTS 



WITH AN ACCOUNT OF 



THE PARKMAN DIARIES 



THE WESTBOROUGH HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

1906 



Tl4 



Gift 
Society 
NOV ? I9» 



c 



ontJ':nts. 



Stkphen Maynard and His House ... 3 

The Simon Tainter House . . . . .12 

The Samuel Forbush Tavern . ... 15 

The Park man Parsonage . . . . .19 

The Breck Parkman Shop . ... 24 

The Forbes Homestead . . . , .37 

The Thomas Forbush House . ... 43 

The First Davis House .... 46 

The Gershom Brigmam House . ... 48 

The Haskeel House . . . . . .50 

The Gale Tavern . . . ... 54 

The Thomas Whitney House. . . . . .58 



The Parkman Diaries . . ... 31 

Additional Parkman Manuscripts . . . .41 




The Stephkn Maynard House. 

Built before 1772. Site of the 3. J Cton- house. Milk Street, Burned December 10. 1891. 



Stephen Maynard and His House. 



Stephen Maj-uard was a man whose 
character was moulded by circum- 
stance--. He inherited \\ithout doubt 
from his Puritan ancestors his share of 
the New England conscience, but his 
life was so arranged that his conscience 
was left untrained. He had so many 
good traits and there was so little in his 
life to develop the bad that he had less 
need of a conscience, if you will pardon 
the expression, than a less prosperous, 
less kindly, less upright man would 
have had. 

He had his full allotment of trouble 
before he had finished his life, but his 
boyhood was singularly happy. If no- 
bility and breadth of character can be 
developed by broad expanses of green 
fields and blue skies, with forests of 
primeval trees and wooded hills and 
glimpses of river and lake, he had them 
all for daily seeing. There was nothinsc 
in the fair landscape spread on all sides 
around his father's home to suggest an 
unpleasant thought. This home, in it- 
self unpretentious, was situated on the 
Lyman School Hill and the nearest 
buildings to it were the little church for 
which his father had given most of the 
land and the parsonage where Ebenezer 
Parkman, a rather young man, was 
bringing up in the best way his godly 
desire and conscience suggested, a large 
family of girls and boys. 

Stephen's father and mother were 
among that class of people known as 
•the salt of the earth." Mr. Parkman, 



who surely must have known them as 
well as it is possible for one friend to 
know another, wrote a few words descrip- 
tive of each. The father he calls "a gen- 
erous, bountiful friend" and speaks of his 
special kindness to the poor. Of Hepsi* 
bath, the mother,he writes: — "A woman 
of remarkable diligence and skill in 
family affairs and very compassionate 
and bountiful to the poor. A very ser- 
viceable person in our neighborhood 
and gave advice freely to all who sought 
to her." Perhaps no higher praise 
could have been written of a woman in 
the eighteenth century. We would ex- 
pect that Stephen with the tendencies 
inherited from generations of godly 
forefathers would have developed just 
as he did and would have entirely de- 
served his father's written word — "my 
dutiful and well-beloved son Stephen." 

Captain John Maynard, the father, 
was well-to-do; his lands of many acres 
he held in his right as proprietor of 
Marlborough, besides he had notes and 
bonds. Hepsibath Brigham, his wife, 
was a daugher of Samuel Brigham, the 
wealthy tanner of Marlborough, and she 
evidently brought to her husband lands 
which she had inherited from her father. 
Stephen was an only child as far as we 
know, certainly the only one who out- 
lived his parents, and consequently the 
heir to their whole estate, a fact which 
in itself must have had a <?reat influence 
on his character. 

An only child is usually selfish, but if 



Stephen Maynard was selfish, it was 
not aftei" the manner of the weak who 
desire all good things for them- 
selves, but after the manner of the 
strong, who grow masterful and carry 
their heads high with pride and take 
pleasure in bestowing of their abun- 
dance on others, not so much for the 
happiness they give as for what they 
receive in the consciunsuess of their 
high desert. His father was John May- 
nard Gentleman, he too was heir to that 
title, and it would not have been owing 
to any craven spirit on the part of his 
boy-mates or to any disagreeably proud 
way on his own part had he been 
acknowledged the leader in all the 
games and sports of the visage. Per- 
haps it was oulj" a development of this 
which made him, when still a young 
man, lieutenant in the King's army and 
later commander of all the troops in 
Westborough. Hence his later title of 
Captain. 

His life can be divided into two dis- 
tinct portions — the first comprising the 
years when he lived in the little one- 
story cottage still standing on Milk 
street, where it was moved many years 
ago; and the second after he built the 
mansion house by the Elsabeth river. 
We cannot draw the line by j ears be- 
tween these two periods. In 1757 he 
was living in his father's house and 
there nine of his children were born, 
five of whom at least also died in this 
house as did also his wife. Thankful. 
At her death, in 1757, he was left with 
John, Antipas, Hepsibath probably, 
and Thankful, three dajs old. His 
wife Thankful was the daughter of 
Deacon Josiah Newton. It was a most 
suitable marriage. "She was a wo- 
man," writes Mr. Parkman, 'who 
feared the Lord and had many excellent 
qualities." Recording her death Mr. 
Parkman notes in his diary that it was 



the seventh death in that house in 13 
months. Stephen had lost his father, 
mother, wife and four of his children 
in that brief space of time, and the 
minister quotes, in view of these mani- 
fold affiictions a verse from one of the 
church hymns:— 

So teach us God ! the uncertain sun 
Of our short day to mind. 

That to true wisdom all our hearts 
May ever be inclined. 

Up to the dreadful summer of 1756 
when death entered so many homes in 
"Westborough and took away one after 
another of the children, Stephen May- 
nard's among them, his life must have 
been especially free from trouble. His 
father does not seem to have deeded 
any property to him or to have given up 
himself the care of his large farm as was 
the usual custom of that time. This may 
have been owins: to the very active part 
that the son took in military affairs. 
We can picture him to ourselves with 
his scarlet coat with military trappings, 
the hat with gold lace ar.d cord, the 
soldierly bearing and courteous man- 
ners, mingled sometimes with that de- 
cisiveness which made the minister feel 
that he was "too short" with him. The 
young men in Westborough eagerly re- 
sponded to his many calls for troops. 
They felt proud to write, as did Con- 
stantine Hardy: — "I entered into His 
Majesty's service to serve my King and 
Country under Captain Steph3u May- 
nard. " 

When the captain came home from 
the many trips to Crown Point and 
Ticonderoga and Canada which the 
long French and Indian wars necessita- 
ted, he was undoubtedly given a most 
flattering i-eception and made to feel 
that he was a great, if not the greatest 
man of the town. 

At 37 he was probably at the height 
of his military prestige. Almost imme- 



diately after the in:\uy deaths in his 
family, there catue the cull of his conn- 
try for his further service, and in less 
than three mouths he is getting a com- 
pany together, with Thomas Parkman 
as drnnimer and Billy in the ranks— two 
of the minister's b.>v3—1o march against 
the enemy. He was gone most of the 
time for a year and upparently his first 
public appearance in We^tborough after 
his return, was at the wedding of Miss 
Patty Death in November of 1758. 
This was on a Wednesday and the next 
Sunday Mr. Parkman noted that Cap- 
tain Maynard and sundrv others who 
have returned from the war were at 
meeting. We can almost see the flutter 
of the demure maidens, as they greeted 
the gallant captain on his return and 
the timid glances of admir?tion he in- 
spired that November Sunday as he sat 
in his pew en the broad alley in the 
old arcade, handsome and confident and 
the envy perhaps of the younger but 
less attractive men. 

He was quite in the habit of keeping 
his own counsel and he cared very little 
at the town's surprise when they heard 
published ten days later the mar- 
riage intentions of Captain Stephen 
Maynard and Mrs. Anna Brigham of 
Marlborough. They were married Jan- 
uary 23, 1759. and drew their own lines as 
to who should be invited to the wedding, 
as we know from Mr. Parkman's entry 
for the nest day. He writes; — "'Mr. 
John Brigham of Sudbury (one-handed 
man) dind with me. Tells me Capt. 
Maynard and Mrs. Anne Brigham were 
married last night. Just before night I 
went over to Capt. Maynard's as he had 
desii'ed, to meet him as bridegroom 
with his bride (his phrase was he then 
designed to bring home his wife). My 
wife did not incline to go, her child 
was very tendful and John was sick. * 

* * It was also somewhat odd that 



our children were not invited to the 
weJding (as neither were we ourselves) 
nor were any of them to this entertain- 
ment, though many others were not 
nearer related than they. But it is prob- 
able their thoughts were too much 
engaged to think much of this, so small 
affair. It was very cold, I walked there 
and returned o'foot. I left them at 
nine o'clock, omitting singing rather 
than run the venture of being too late." 
After all this self denial, however, he 
hears it reported a few days later on the 
street that he was there that night till 
one o'clock 

In six months Captain Maynard was 
in the army again and although he real- 
ized how very small was his father's little 
old house, as long as the war lasted, he 
could take little time to think of per- 
sonal comfort, either for himself or for 
them In 1763, peace vvas declared and 
with its declaration began the second 
period of Captain Maynai'd's life. 

Between the time of his second mar- 
riage in January 1759 and the surrender 
of Canada to Great Britain February 
10, 1763, which closed the French and 
Indian wars, probably several children 
had been born to them, although none are 
recorded in the Westborough Records, 
until 1768,when their daughter Elizabeth 
was born, His first boy, according to 
Mr. Parkmaa's diary, was born Decem- 
ber 9, 1759. Benjamin Gott, Robert 
Breck. Stephen and Jeffrey Amherst, 
named for his old general, Lord Am- 
herst, were without doubt his sons. 
Probably also Josiah, The records give 
no clue as to which was eldest. The 
marriages of three are recorded, 
Stephen was married first in 1783, 
when he would have been 24 had he 
been the first born, Benjamin Gott was 
married in 1787 and Jeffrey, under the 
curious name of Jepry Amhors in 1793. 
The only one whose death is mentioned 



is Stephen who died in 1806 bat his a/jje 
is not sciven. 

Captain Maynard at the beginning of 
this second period in 1768 was 43 years 
old. Up to this time he had held no 
important positions in towa affairs, his 
activity in the army had prevented 
this. He had however earned the 
honorable position which he now takes 
as counsellor and advisor. He was to 
serve the town as selectman and repre- 
sentative, to act on important commit- 
tees and to be one of the trustees for the 
Indians. Having done all that he could 
to save the curse from falling upon his 
head which his Chaplain had graphical- 
ly revealed to the army in his sermon 
from the text: — "Cursed be he that 
doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully 
and cursed be he that keepeth back his 
sword from blood," he was now enjoy- 
ing his well-earned rest. It would seem 
as if for him the stress and tumult of 
life were over, and he could honestly 
say to his soul — "Take thine ease, eat, 
drink and be merry." 

Here however we must pause a mo- 
ment, to see if we can just what kind 
of a man the prosperous circumstances 
of his life had made of him. W e can- 
not read many pages of Mr, Parkman's 
diary without concluding that he had 
inherited the gift of generosity which is 
mentioned as being a distinctive virtue 
of both his father and his mother. Pre- 
sents of meat, cases of gin, etc., found 
their way to the parsonage with great 
frequency. At one time he undertook 
to straighten out one of the town roads 
at his own expense as Mr. Parkman re- 
cords:— "Capt Maynard solicits me 
about moving my walls on ye north- 
west and straightening the road from 
the meeting house to ye northward. He 
promises it shall not be to my damage. 
He will be at the charge and will 



measure the land that I may have 
equivalent." 

He is ready also to do any small 
favors and we find bim good-naturedly 
packing Billy Parkman's checked 
shirts in his valise when, in one of the 
campaigns, the troops have marched a 
few days before their captain. 

His life seems to have engendered in 
him a desire to meet all expectations. 
He does not like to disappoint people 
either in a small way or a large way. 
In fact he liked to do a little more than 
was expected of him. When all his 
neighbors sent a load of wood to the 
parsonage, he would send three. As 
the richest man in West bo rough, as his 
large estate made him, he had a certain 
ideal of living set before him by his 
townsmen which he wished to attain. 
He does not seem to have been a man 
who cared especially for his own com- 
fort, but much for the good opinion of 
those around him. 

He did not apparently take a very ac- 
tive part in the affairs of the church, al- 
though his wife Anna was a regular at- 
tendant. 

It may be of interest to give an ap- 
proximate idea of the property which 
he owned at the beginning of this 
second period of his life. 

His father's original farm embraced 
the land on the Lyman School Hill to the 
Shrewsbury line. The northern bounds 
of this farm he extended in 1772 by 
purchase of the Tomlin farm just over 
the line in Northborough, better known 
as the Davis place. This farm added 
about 116 acres to the 400 in the home- 
stead lot. In addition to this he owned 
160 acres in Shrewsbury, also a farm 
near the meeting-house in Westborough 
which he probably inherited from his 
mother Hepsibath as it had formerly 
belonged to her father, Samuel Brig- 



ham. This included a part of Memori- 
al Cemetery. Mr. Parkman writes: — 
"March 29, 1759 N. B. A number of 
meu at work in clearing some of Capt. 
Maynard'8 land and preparing it for the 
bur5'ing place. For ye fencing it some 
bring fencing stuff. Some are digging 
stones. I gave them a few Rodda of 
addition." This farm seems to have 
been northwest of Main street and ex- 
tended from some point back of where 
the old Arcade stood, throu^fh the back 
line of Memorial cemetery. He also 
owned some lands in other towns. 

Probably one of his first acts in this 
second period of his life was the begin- 
ning of the house on the Nortbborough 
road. He was entitled to the best house 
in town. He not only could afford it, 
but none other could grace it so well or 
make it mean so much to his fellow 
townsmen. We already know from 
Mr Parkman's remark about the seven 
deaths in the John Maynard house, that 
he was living with his father at the 
time of his wife's death, in 1758. We 
also know that very soon after this he 
was called to the war, that his second 
marriage took place in 1759, in one of 
his brief vacations at home and that a 
j ew months afterwards he was in the 
field again. Unfortunately, Mr. Park- 
man's most valuable Diary is lost for 
the years between 1761 and 1771. I 
think we may certainly say that the 
house was not built before 1761. for 
surely he would have mentioned it in 
the very full records he makes of mat- 
ters much more trivial and which 
would probably have been of much less 
Interest to him and his family. 

The earliest allusion I have found to 
it in the Registry of Deeds at Worcester 
is in 1770. This paper is a mortgage 
for £400 of the certain messuage and 
tenement of housing where he then 
dwelt with houses and bams, to Joshua 



Loring. This mortgage was never dis- 
charged. It was perhaps given to de- 
fray part of the expense of building the 
house and was the first financial clund 
which cast its shadow over his prosper- 
ity. He had previously mortgaged a 
part of the lot but not the part where 
the house stood. 

According to the family tradition the 
house was seven years in building, 
which would be the exact number of 
years between the establishment of 
peace in 1763 and the placing of this 
mortgage when he was living in the 
house in 17T0. The family tradition, 
which comes as do all the traditions in 
regard to the house from the descend- 
ants of Mrs. Maynard's daughter, Anna 
Brigham. claims that all the carved oak 
used in its construction was brought 
from England, and also that slaves 
built the stone wall running up the hil: 
east of the house. Captain Maynard 
certainly owned three slaves at this 
time, a man with his wife and daugh- 
ter, possibly others 

Most of you remember this hount:- 
which stood until 1891, 14 years ago. 
To those who do not the picture in the 
possession of your society represents it 
accurately. The front aoor was on the 
norbhem side, leaving the eastern side, 
which was parallel with the North- 
borough road, for the hving room. It 
may be of interest to many of you who 
perhaps never went into the house, and 
it may sometime be of value to the de- 
scendants of Stephen Maynard to have 
a few words of description of its interi- 
or. This I asked Mrs. Mabel G. Nourse. 
daughter of Mr. Bela J. Stone, who 
lived there during its last j^ears, tc 
write for me, and I will quote her ex- 
act words: 

"As you opened the front door there 
were two rooms to the right and left, 
but no entry to speak of. The parlor 



was a Iarj?e roora with the largu be:im 
going across the ceiliug, quite a fancy 
oue. In fact the woodwork in that 
room was all fancy; in one corner was 
a very pretty open closet with shelves 
coming out in a round projection for 
bric-a-brac, etc., really a great orna- 
ment to the room. On the other side 
of the room were two closets, one quite 
small, the other larger, more of a 
clothes closet. The doors, as I remem- 
ber, were large panels. Another large 
room used by us as a sitting room was 
directly back but had nothing remark- 
able about it aside from the large beam 
and wooden corners Two doors led 
from this room into the dining-room, 
one through the back ball, the other by 
the little passage built into the chimney. 
By the way that chimney made itself 
very prominent in all the rooms. In 
the dining-room a large dish closet was 
built up against it. The rooms were 
low studded and all had the large beams. 
The house abounded in closets, in every 
conceivable place you would find ow^. 
The front stairway was paneled very 
nicely in banisters; at the head of them 
was a landing and a step each side to 
the rooms. The back stairs were 
directly opposite only very plain, closets 
and all. In the back room towards the 
street there were two little shelves set 
in the chimney and the largest of 
closets, inside of which was a small 
closet. There were four chambers 
right above the four lower rooms. Then 
in the attic were two rooms finished off 
and a large open space The chimney 
looked as thongh at sometime there had 
been an open fireplace. I believe origi- 
nally there had been a fence around the 
roof of the house." 

Mrs. Nourse also adds that the hearth 
stone which used to be in the dining- 
room is now in front of the barn door. 
And there was in the kitchen a large 



square tank where the water ran con- 
stantly from a spring on the hill. 

Captain Maynard never took the field 
again after the peace of 1783. He ren- 
dered most important services during 
the Revolution, but it was as counsellor 
not as soldier. Three of his sons served 
in the army: John, Stephen, Jr., and 
Benjamin Gott, John becoming a cap- 
tain himself. Captain Maynard was at 
the breaking out of the war a man of 
55. From 1768 through 1777 and again 
from 1785 through 1789 he represented 
the town in the legislature. He was a 
member in 1774 of the first and in 1775 
of the second and third Provincial con- 
gi-esses. He served on Committees of 
CoiTespondence and in 177(5 was ap- 
pointed by special request from the In- 
dians themselves one of the three trus- 
tees of the Hassanamisco Indians. Many 
of these Indians had probably served 
under him and they loved and trusted 
him. 

Probably with so large a part of his 
life up to this time passed in camp and 
field, he had less knowledge of farming 
than most of his neighbors. Nearly all 
of them had received when atcaiiiing 
their majority some portion of their 
father's farms, and taken upon them- 
selves thus early the responsibility of 
managing it Stephen Maynard had 
received his land by inheritance when 
he was already a lieutenant in the 
King's army. Possibly farming did not 
suit his ideas of active life. We only 
know that he cast about in his mind 
for seme other way of earning money 
than the farmer's way and decided to 
follow in the footsteps of his grand- 
father, Samuel Brigham, and become a 
tanner, or at least to make tanners of 
his sons. 

In order to learn the art, he invited a 
young tanner from Rutland, Isaac 
Davis by name, to become a member of 



bis family and impart bis knowledge to 
thetu. 

In 1773 Anna Brigham, the daughter 
of Mrs. Maynard, married Isaac Davis 
and they moved, according to family 
tradition, into the house which was 
lately owned by Hiram Broaders. An- 
tipas the captain's second son, a young 
man oi 21, made his home with them. 

John, the eldest son. was at this time 
married and living in Shrewsbury, 
leaving Antipas, the only remaining 
son of the captain's first marriage, to 
help him carry on this new business. 
Of his younger children, the eldest vfas 
now only a boy of 12, and undoubtedly 
the father was depending principally 
upon Antipas for developing and man- 
aging his share of the enterprise The 
records are silent as to the future of 
this son. but the family tradition again 
helps us out. According to it he left 
the Davis home one night, with his 
clothes tied in a hasty bundle, and for 
12 years no word of him came back. 
Then there came a letter saying that 
his great desire to travel, for which he 
could not obtain his father's consent, 
had led him to leave. He had seen 
Spain and England and finally settled 
down to his trade of tanner in the Isle 
of Guernsey. 

A few years ago papers were sent out 
by Clark University and other institu- 
tions of learning, with various questions 
to be answesed by those receiving them. 
They were sent in very large numbers 
to all classes of people and wei-e on vari- 
ous subjects. Among others there was 
one on "Fear," and the question was 
a.sked, "What are you most afraid of?" 
When answered by women there was a 
variety in the replies. The men how- 
ever gave almost all the same answer, 
that the fear which haunted them was 
the fear of being poor or of losing all 
they had and the power to get more. 



This may have been —probably was— 
very far from Stephen Maynard's 
thoughts when he built his new home. 
It was built however, just at the begin- 
ning of one of the saddest financial 
conditions which has ever occurred in 
our country. To understand the calam- 
ity which overtook him in these last 
dozen years of his life it is necessary to 
look into the conditions then prevailing 
and the existing laws in regard to iebt 
During the Revolution, as you all know, 
the paper currency became greatly de- 
preciated. The price paid for die ueces- 
s;>ries and luxuries of life were abnor- 
mally high,— §50 for a handkerchief. 
$150 I'or a hat, etc. This was the great- 
er burden to those who had to keej) up 
appearances, who were accustomed to 
spend freely and who were called upon 
to help others and to finance to a great- 
er or less degree all town and country 
enterprises. They were ail looking for 
better times. In the meantime, in or- 
der to obtain the necessary ready money 
they contracted heavy debts. At the 
close of the war, the paper money had 
become utterly worthless. J^rices were 
again low, lower than they had bet-n 
for years. The debtors were the one 
class to suffer severely. The poor man 
who had spent but little found his small 
amount of money now went a long 
ways. But the debtor had no money, 
his lands were mortgaged, and the 
forced sales netted almost nothing. 
Like everything else they were almost 
valueless. After these sales bad 
stripped a man whose property consist- 
ed almost entirely of land of them all 
and his debts were still unpaid, the 
sheriff had authority from the courts 
to seize his body and put it into jail 
where he was to be kept at the expense 
of the creditor until he was satisfied. 
Naturally under these circumstances, 
the debtor had but few comforts and 



no luxuries, unless provided by his 
family. 

The records of the jail in Worcester 
are full of the names of Revolutionary 
aoldiers, who, having served in the 
army with small pay and perhaps a 
large family at home to support, were 
unable to meet the demands of their 
creditors. Even Colonel Timothy Bige- 
low, who, throughout the whole war, 
was a colonel in active service, and 
who, like Captain Maynard, was a man 
of unusual wealth in 1775, was impris- 
oned in the Worcester jail for a rather 
small debt, from whence, as the quaint 
record says, he was "discharged by 
Deth." 

There is a letter on file in the City 
Hall, in Worcester, which gives so 
pathetic a view of such a case, from 
one of these soldier's debtors, that I am 
sure you will pardon my quoting a few 
lines. This letter was addressed to the 
Selectmen of Worcester and was writ- 
ten by Nathan Johnson. He says: — 
"My disagreeable situation obliges me 
to take thiii method to acquaint yon 
that in Consequence of my being taxed 
in this Town and not able to pay the 
same I am now confined in Goal where 
I have nothing to subsist upon only 
what I receive from my Charitable 
Friends," He then goes on to state that 
he is overtaxed and to describe how 
very fast his estate melted away by the 
fall of paper money and adds:— "This is 
therefore to Desire you Gentlemen to 
.see that this Mistake is rectified and to 
Request your Interposition in Releasing 
me from my Confinement by setting me 
:tt liberty, giving me time to turn my- 
self I will honestly pay every farthing 
that is due just as soon as I am able, 
')ut whilst I remain under Confinement 
I can pay nothing. I have no chance to 
turn myself." 



This letter is dated April, 1784, and 
he wrote another similar to it in May. 
1784. 

It would seem that Nathan Johnson 
took a very common sense view of the 
situation, which might have appealed 
to many a creditor. 

It was with this fate staring him in 
the face that Captain Maynard, hoping 
and praying for better times and a nor- 
mal valuation of the financial medium 
then in use, saw his property gradually 
diminish in value until even his large 
estates were utterly insuflScient to meet 
the debts which the exorbitant prices of 
the previous years had compelled him 
to contract. 

At this time, only four days after 
Nathan Johnson was writing his second 
letter in the Worcester jail. Captain 
Maynard puts a second mortgage on his 
homestead, for £1283, Other property 
belonging to him was sold for debt. 

This, however, was not all. He was 
holding, by special request, as we have 
seen, with two other trustees, the money 
which the Grafton Indians had received 
from the sale of their lands 

We find from the records of the In- 
dian funds that this money he used as 
his own, expecting, without doubt, to 
be able to fully repay it. It amounted 
to over $1300. — "a desperate debt 
against Capt. Stephen Maynard," says 
the record, a debt which has never been 
paid and which the Indian Commission- 
er, in 1861 , estimated would have been 
at that time |27.000. 

Before judging Cj*ptain Maynard 
harshly for this course, I wish to call 
your attention once again to one of the 
laws in regard to debt. 

According to the law of that day the 
spending of trust funds was not a felony 
any more than the failing to pay any 
other debt would haye been. The laws 
usually represent pretty clearly the con- 



10 



science of the time and, as we have 
seen. Stephen Maynard had had no ex- 
periences which would tend to develop 
his conscience to any Higher plane than 
the common law 

I do not think yon would be especially 
interested in a list of the various mort- 
gages and foreclosures, Which seem so 
dry to us, and which were so vital to 
him. 

He owed his misfortunes, I am sure 
you will all admit, to the unfortunate 
circumstances which prevailed. He 
had not made himself, as many a poor 
boy has had to do. He had been made 
by the fortunate circumstances of his 
birth. He was now overwhelmed by 
the unfortunate circumstances of the 
times. 

Sometime in 1789 or 1790, he packed 
again for a journey, as he had done so 
many times in his soldier days. He 
said good-bye, as he had been wont to 
do, to his home and the dear town 
where he had always lived, feeling that 
it might be a last good-bye. He deeded 
his pews in the meeting-house, which 
were except fi'om taxation, to his two 
sons. 

It proved to be a last good-bye. As 
far as we know he never saw his beau- 
tiful home by the Elsabeth, nor the hills 
and meadows of his native town. We 
find him giving deeds of the little prop- 
erty in w'lich he still had an interest, 
from a small town in Vermont, Bar- 
nard.' in the County of Windsor. 

Hifesons, Jeffrey, Amherst and Josiah, 
Were with him, as we know from their 
being witnesses to papers which were 
made by him, as was also probably his 
wife and other members of his family. 

I have not been able to learn when 
Captain Maynard died. His death is 
not recorded in Barnard. It is possible 
that he went with his old friend, Joseph 
Baker, who also left Westborough on 



account of his heavy debts, to Bakers- 
field, in Vermont. The town clerk of 
Barnard writes me that Maynard sold 
his property in Barnard in 1790, to a 
son-iu-law of Joseph Baker's, an ances- 
tor of his own. He remembers that his 
mother used to speak of Aunt Maynard 
who lived in Bakersfield. 

He had died before 1796. 

The house and homestead farm had 
been leased by the mortgagees to two 
men from Weston, Capt. Joseph and 
Lieut. Fortunatus Nichols before March. 
1796 when it was sold to them by a Dr. 
James Lloyd of Boston. A month after 
this Anna, the widow of Capt. Stephen 
Maynard, I'eleases for £100 all her right 
as "dower of widow's thirds" in the 
farm, and with this act the beautiful 
home passes entirely out of the hands of 
the Maynard family. 

Nor did Anna herself long survive. 
She lived in North borough after her 
hu.sband's death, and died there July 6, 
1799. 

The inventory of her property shows 
pitifully how little she had bought since 
the bogiuning of tha day.-i of her adver- 
sity, how carefully she had mended and 
made over the old finery which had 
been the admiration of many of the 
young women of the town when she sat 
in her pew in the old church, just oppo- 
site Madame Parkman, or stepped into 
her coach at the church door and rolled 
down the Northborough road. 

She had, according to this inventory. 
some notes, amounting to a few hun- 
dred pounds, three tables and 18 chairs, 
which were at Mrs. Parkman's, and her 
apparel. 

The most expensive article in the list 
of apparel was a red quilt (petticoat) 
worth $1.50 Her bonnet of silk was 
worth 43 cents; her old velvet coat. 83 
cents: her silk muff, 50 cents, and so on 
down a rather short list of things which 



11 



once were choice and unasnal, but now 
n'iarly valueless. 

For nearly a hundred years after Cap- 
tain Stephen Maynard strapped from his 
doorway for the last time, the house 
stood, an expression of his own character, 
as is every house which has been thought 
out carefully by him who is to live 
therein,— plain, substantial, hospitable, 
with kindly thought for other's com- 
fort, a little larger, a little better, a little 
more beautiful than any other in town. 



When its end came, it oame suddenly. 
The house did not fall into decay, nor 
was it left uninhabited to suffer the in- 
roads of old age in sight cf every pass- 
er-by on the highway. Apparently it 
was just as solid, just as substantial, 
on the night of December 10, 1891, when 
it was entirely burned to the ground, 
as it had been in its early days. 

Harriette M. Forbes. 
Worcester, January 16, 1906. 



The Simon Tainter House. 



The site of this house was in the grant 
to the heirs of Capt. Richard Beers in 
1693. They sold to Samuel How and 
he, in 1698, to Thomas Rice, who, in 
173,5, deeded 60 acres of the "farm on 
Jack Straw's Hill at North part of 
same" to his son, Perez. Its north 
bound was "by Marlborough town 
line." In 1728, when a part of Sutton 
was set to Westborough, Perez Rice 
sold 80 acsres including this site to Si- 
mon Tainter. He bought, in 1748, ten 
acres, ' north of said Taiuter's dwelling 
house," the south bound of \\hii'h was 
"formerly Marlborough old line." In 
1763, he deeded to his son Benjamin the 
farm of 111 acres, "together with the 
east and north parts of the dwelling 
house, the barn, mill house and all other 
buildings, except the west end of dwell- 
ing house from garret to cellar." This 
was evidently reserved for his own 
abode. In 1779, eighty-one acres with 
the buildings passed to Elisha Forbes. 



He held it till 1807, when it was includ- 
ed in the 100 acres which he sold ^.o 
John Wadsworth. After the latter's 
death in 1839, it was held by the widow 
Persis and the children until they sold 
their rights in 1855 to one of the sons, 
Cyrus, who in 1873 made over the farm 
to Cyrus Fay. 

The owners since have been, Louis 
Pluff, Mrs. Cyrus Fay, J. F. Preseott, 
John and Anne Nestor, G. W. Nason, 
C. E. S. McCorry, G. H. Burnham and 
W. A. Coburn, J. T. Costello and; Alva 
W. York. 

The house was built, we had thought, 
soon after the purchase of the land in 
1728. but the Journal records April 1, 
1726. " I rode as far as Mr. Tainter's to 
raising his barn. It was a somewhat 
pleasant time, but not altogether with- 
out Trouble and Toil" The date we 
have of its occupancy is 1737. Its style 
is familiar,— the two-storied front with 
long sloping roof in the rear, as in two 



12 




Occupied in 1737. 



The Simon Taintor House. 
Near South end of Mt. Pleasant Street 



Burned May 23. 1901. 



other of the prints. The ell on the 
North side may have been a later addi- 
tion. Over the front door was a taste- 
ful gable with checkered moulding, as 
in the Breck Parkman house in the ell 
of the sleigh shop. ISumiaer street. 

This door opened into a small entry 
with its winding stairway. A large 
room was at either hand, low-studded, 
with corner posts and beams across the 
ceiling. Back of the north room was a 
bedroom and in its rear a large kitchen 
in the ell, reached by door and entry on 
the North side. 

The south front room had peculiar cup- 
boards, one above the other and between 
them a slide two feet deep. This was 
used for mixing the toddy and other liq- 
uors for the travellers that stopped on 
the way. 

The chimney had its fireplaces with 
many cupboards built into the side 
spaces. It probably had its brick oven 
but this with set kettles was later in 
the ell. Just back of the front stairs 
and built into the chimney was a capa- 
cious dark closet with a naiTow door. 
Its arched ceiling and .walls were of 
brick. It was used by the elder Mrs 
Wadsworth for washing the dishes. 

The south door opened into an entry 
^ith a woodshed at the left, through 
which one passed to the kitchen. On its 
inner side was a passage over a high 
platform to the other kitchen. Stairs 
from this led to the second story. 

Up stairs were two large front rooms 
and one back of the north room. The 
south room was divided by a partition 
and in its rear was a store room. The 
attic was unfinished. 

The floor boards were very wide and 
much more easily cared for than mod- 
ern ones. The dooi's were made of like 
wide boards often without panels A 
cellar was ander house and ell with par- 
titions. 



We are indebted for the abcve de- 
tails to Mrs. S. Maria Wadsworth, who 
lived here from 1867 to 1874. 

The view from the front yard is of 
interest. Down the lane to the East 
was James Miller's house, used for scor- 
insrhay when it was burned. Beyond 
Jack Straw Brook, on the hill south was 
the Daniel Forbes homestead with traces 
of cellar and well. The Barnabas Mil- 
ler place was west of Riiggles street, 
marked by the old chimney. The house 
of M Horatio Blake opposite Mt. Pleas- 
ant street has been moved toward the 
village. The blacksmith shop at the 
north corner of Eli Whitney street with 
the house of Mrs. Bayley back of it 
have passed away. Up that street just 
east of the Whitney house must have 
stood the Isaac Shattuck house of the 
early deeds, — its site now unknown. 

The change that befell these neighbor- 
ing dwellings came at last to the Tain- 
ter house and at midnight, May 23 IflOl, 
it was totally destroyed by fire. Happi- 
ly a friendly hand secured in season a 
sketch of it and the picturesque appear- 
ance it presented with its dark weather- 
stained clapboarding with the light 
ttimmings is finely preserved in the 
print before us. 

The first occupant of the house was its 
builder, Simon Tainter. He was the 
grandson of Joseph Taynter, who in 
1638, at the age of 25, came from Eng- 
land, in "Ye goodeshipp ye Confidence 
of 200 tonnes." He made his home in 
"Watertown. His youngest son Simon 
was "A man of means and was pious 
and charitable" filling mauj' offices of 
trust. His eldest son was the Simon of 
our sketch. He was born in 1693. He 
married Rebecca Harrington in Water- 
town, where six of their children were 
born — the other four in Westborough 
to which he came in 1726. 

The esttem in which he was held is 



13 



seen in his election as moderator,, as- 
sessor, purveyor of highways, and on 
various committees on school and other 
affairs. He was lieutenant in the mili- 
tia. 

Of hi.** spiritual life, we get a glimpse 
in the recnrd April 1, 1726 ' Simon 
Tainter (who had been with me some 
time ago) was with me in a very Heav- 
enly and Devout Frame Conversing of 
his State and preparation for his admit- 
tance into the Communion." This oc- 
curred soon after. 

He was deacon ten years, from 1757 
to 1767. After his election Mr. Park- 
man wrote: — "1 can't but look upon 
him as being all things considered, the 
suiiablest person among us for said 
office, and hope God will graciously ac- 
cept and reward him for his readiness to 
s^rve, he having in a distinguished 
manner a manifest Disposition and is 
very helpful to the poor and afflicted." 

The Journal has scores of instauses in 
which he as-iisted his pastor Mrs. 
Forbes has so happily condensed many 
of these that we quote her words: —'in- 
viting him and nis wife to dinner when 
'they had dressed a very large Pigg to 
entertain us' sending him fresh meat 
and wood, a Dotr,le of Maderia. or a few 
oysters (in the shells) from Boston sell- 
ing divers sorts of edibles for Mrs. Park- 
man in the Boston markets, ploughing, 
.sowing and reaping, and helping him in 
a thousand ways." With characteristic 
frankness, the minister had to confess, 
once: — "This important day for study- 
ing was greatly interrupted by both 
Mrs Tainters who came to make cake 
and biskitt for my wife Deacon 
Tainter and Daughter Warren here at 
Eveng. Their kindness and service 
verry acceptable had this been at an- 
other time." It was Mrs Tainter who 
applied "a tobacco ointment" for the re- 
lief of her friend. In like spirit the 



deacon "takes his horse from his own 
ploughing and rides with me and goes 
to ploughing in my field." 

He was the one to drive his minister 
to councils and had this record: — "I 
cant but take special notice of the 
Deacon's readiness to serve and waite 
upon me. in a very respectable manner 
and in the mean time is doing me th^ 
great kindness to subdue my new mai'e 
to drawing." He interested himself and 
his minister in the "sorrowful condition 
of the people at North Sutton " He had 
a mind of his own at times, for the 
minister records his "dispute with 
Deacon Tainter about the beginning of 
the Sabbath." His home was often the 
preaching place and at times was used 
for school teaching. In March 1767, tbe 
pastor's visits were daily to the sick one 
and on April 1, he "finds him very 
low." He died the next day aged 72 
years. 

In his will dated 1763. he left to his 
grandson Simon his silver cup and to 
the church some £6 and more, though 
the diai'y in 1780 refei'S to Deacon 
Tainter's legacy of £r)0 old tenor to this 
church ' His personal estate was in- 
ventoried at a little under £400. 

Fortunate the man of whom it could 
be said: — "His duty was manife.sted by 
his high regard to the house of God, his 
constant attendance there, his esteem 
of the ordinance and ministers thereof. 
His deeds of charity were unstinted, his 
heart and hands being ever open to re- 
lieve and help, and to supply the neces- 
sitous, who now deplore the loss of such 
a friend and father." 

It is well that we ai'e to associate 
with this house one of such a character 

The second occupant was his son 
Benjamin, to whom the father made 
over the farm four years before his own 
death. 

At 21 years of age, the young man 



14 




Occupied in 173' 



The Samuel Forbush Tavern. 

Corner of Oak and Lyman Streets Owned by H. P. Fisher. 



was captured by the Indians at Adams, 
Mass. He was treated at first with 
great severity by his master whose 
brother he had shot. But later he was 
told that "for that cause he should 
claim him as an adopted brother." 

When short of provisions on their 
hunting excursions, his master would 
go without saying as he drew his belt 
tight about him, " Indian can go with- 
out better than white man." 

Two years after captivity, he married 
Hannah Wood of Somers, Conn. He 
is often mentioned in the diary for his 
kindly services to the minister. He 
held the farm some 16 years, till nearly 
60 years of age. One wrote of him: — 
"He owned a good farm but sold it for 
Continental money which proved of 
little value, migrated to Vermont, (June 
20. 1780, with his sons and their wives and 
children) lived a short time at Newfane, 
Amherst, Mass., and Somers, Conn., re- 
turned to Vermont and lived with his 
sons Samuel and Ezekiel and Hannah 
Rice unto his death Aug. 1810, in his 
86th year." 

His grandson wrote:— "In appearance 
my grandfather was stern but was very 



pleasant and even in his ways and a de- 
voted Christian." 

The next owner was Elisha Forbes. 
He was the son of Daniel and grandson 
of the first Jonathan Forbes. He is 
often mentioned in the Diary and his re- 
lations with Mr. Parkman are akin to 
those of the Tainters. assisting in mar- 
keting the produce, caring for the 
troublesome sheep and "very generous 
with a number of presents." He mar- 
ried Hannah Flagg and had a family of 
eight children. He held the farm 28 
years. 

The fourth owner was John Wads- 
worth whose family owned the farm 
some 66 years so that it was often 
known as "The Wads worth Place." 

It would be of interest to trace as far 
as possible the families of the later own- 
ers. There is a work here that yet 
awaits to be done. It is enough if we 
have helped but a little to preserve, be- 
fore it is too late, the remembrances of 
the older generations through the hum- 
ble domicile in which they dwelt and 
toiled. 

S Ingersoll Briant. 

Westborough, Feb. 3. 1906. 



The Samuel Forbush Tavern. 



In 1671 the men of Marlborough be 
gan to wish for more extended dominion 
and sent a petition to the General Court 
asking for a grant of lands situated 
forty or fifty miles south west of Marl- 
borough. The request wi;s not granted 
80 several of the young men took up 
farms in the western part of Marl- 



borough, which was soon called 
Chauncy. 

On Sunday the 36th of March, 1676, 
as the people were gathered in their 
meeting house, the Indians attacked the 
town of Marlborough. All the people 
but one, a Deacon Newton, reached the 
garrison house in safety, but when they 



15 



came forth they fonnd their meeting 
house and dwellings burned, their c-attle 
killed and their farms ruined. Thus in 
a few short hours the result of their six- 
teen years of toil were wiped out. Dis- 
heartened and overcome by fear, the 
people left their lands and went to "the 
older towns. But the death of King 
Philip, which occurred the next August, 
forever broke the power of the Indians 
in Massachusetts and two years later 
the town was again organized. The 
vfestern part of the town grew quite 
rapidly and had a strong vote and in- 
flence in town affairs. This growth 
was chiefly around Chauncy pond and 
the settlement came to be called 
Chauncy Village. When in 1688 Marl- 
borough proposed to build a meeting 
house on the site of the one destroyed 
by the Indians, Chauncy people object- 
ed on the ground that it was too far 
away, and as this was now a strong 
community the town voted:— "That if 
the western part of the town shall see 
cause afterwards to build another meet- 
ing house, and find itself able to do so, 
and to maintain a minister, then the 
division to be made by a line at the 
cart-way at Stirrup Brook, where the 
Connecticut way now goeth, and to run 
a parallel line with the west line of the 
bounds of the town. " This was practi- 
cally the division later made. 

For a quarter of a century the people 
toiled on, struggling with the problems 
incident to a new country, and now 
Chauncy begins to long for riglits and 
privileges of its own. The natural con- 
ditions are favorable to growth, the 
only drawback being that the town is 
so far away. Accordingly, in the year 
1702, a definite effort was made to 
found a new town. A petition was 
sent to the General Court based upon 
the vote of the town in 1688, already 
mentioned. This petition was not 



granted, and Chauncy i-emained for 
fifteen years longer a part of Marl- 
boro, The subject of this sketch, Sam- 
uel Forbush, was one of the signers of 
this petition 

Samuel Forbusb, born in 1674, was 
the son of Daniel Forbush, who was 
born in Scotland in 1620. His wife was 
Abigail Rice. His brothers wera 
Thomas Forbush and Jonathan For- 
bush, who was the first one of the 
family to write his name "Forbes." 
Samuel and Thomas and their descend- 
ants kept the name "Forbush." 

Samuel Forbush was one of the orig- 
inal settlers of Westborough. He lived 
in the house now standing on the cor- 
ner of Lyman and Oak streets. The 
house has been changed and enlarged 
since his day, but is probably the oldest 
in town. 

There was a deed ot 3^ acres in 
Chauncy meadow given by Nathaniel 
Oak to Samuel Forbush in 1715. 

In 1718, according to the town his- 
tory, Samuel Forbush was appointed 
one of the committee "to wait upon the 
General Cort's Committee to Sett out 
the minister's Lot." Now, back in 1709 
the Proprietors of Marlborough had set 
apart forty acres of upland and swamp 
west of Chauncy Pond and ten acres of 
meadow "at the west end of Great 
Middle Meadow," near Hobamoka pond 
as a "ministerial farm." The com- 
mittee now appoined made an ad- 
ditional assignment of one hundred 
acres. This hundred acres was as- 
signed to Mr. Daniel Elmer, who was 
the first minister of Westborough, 
though never settled. Upon leaving 
Westborough he sold the farm so Mr. 
Parkman had only the original fifty 
acres, together with such land as he 
bought for himself. 

On the third of March of this year, 
1718, was held the first of the "March 



16 



meetings." At this meeting Samuel 
Forbush was chosen fence viewer. 

In 1723 he served the town as one of 
the board of selectmen. 

Early in the year 1729 Mr. Parkman 
was taken ill and was unable to attend 
to his pastoral duties for nearly a year 
and the town voted him £10 extra in 
spite of the "desents" of Samuel Fay 
and Samuel Forbush. 

A deed ^iven in 1732 names "Lieuten- 
ant" Samuel Forbush, and Parkman's 
diary in 1737 speaks of "Captain" Sam- 
el Forbush. 

He died in 1766, aged 93 years, and 
his will, presented for probate Dec, 15, 
1767, deeds to Samuel Forbush, Jr., all 
real estate and buildings. 

Samuel Forbush, Jr., seems not only 
to have inherited his father's name and 
estate, but also his public spirit. He 
served his town as a member of the 
board of selectmen for six years: 1773 
and 4, 1787 and 8, 1791 and 2, and at the 
beginning of the Revolution War in 
1776 he held the title of Captain. 

In June, 1779, Mr Parkman writes: 
"At eve, but before Sun setting, I by 
Request of Mr. Samuel Forbush went 
to his House. He has been raising a 
new barn, and moving part of an Old 
One. I was at their Supper, after 
which we sang part of Psalm 112." 

In December of 1779 the eighth entry 
in the "diary" says that Samuel For- 
bush came with his team and "brot 
Wood;" the tenth entry says he brought 
"old Wood, 2 Load;" the sixteenth en- 
try says that he brought "more Wood " 
We get some idea of the value of wood 
in the early days from the remainder of 
the entry which reads: "Gave the 
former (Samuel Forbush) a Receipt for 
ten cord. He tells me ye Town voted 
to give 7£ per cord to Four of you 70£ 
apiece for 10 cord each. " There seems 
to have been a lavish use of wood in 



the parsonage that winter, for in March 
Mr. Parkman says: "We are much re- 
duced as to wood and the Weather is 
still too cold to be indifferent about it." 
Deeds dated 1783 and 1790 mention 
land of Samuel Forbush. 

In 1791 Samuel Forbush deeded to his 
son Isaac Forbush ^ of 120 acres, of 
which twenty acres was the house lot. 
Its bounds were beginning at east corner 
by county road (now Oak street) near 
Cedar swamp, north and west by said 
swamp to Solomon Bathrick's, west by 
said Bathrick's to road, east by said 
road to beginning. 

Isaac Forbush was born in 1758 in the 
old house and always resided there. 
For many years he conducted a general 
country store, and in 1803 was doing 
business under the firm name of For- 
bush & Warren, dealing in W. I. produce 
and the like. He was selectman in 1806. 
The rest of the property of Samuel 
Forbush remained in his possession un- 
til his death in 1818. His will, filed 
Aug. 14, 1818, drawn up back in 1809, 
gives land i to wife, i to daughter, Ly- 
dia, i to sons, Coolidge and Samuel — 
the latter two to receive all land at 
death of wife and daughter. It also 
gives to Zedida (late wife of my son 
Isaac) ani grandson Lambert "that 
part of my land which now lyeth open 
to the road before my dores at the 
south and east end of my dwelling 
house, so long as she and he may keep a 
publick house of entertainment. " 

The "Forbush Tavern" now became 
the property of Lambert Forbush, born 
in 1789, the son of Isaac, the son of 
Samuel, the son of Samuel, the son of 
Samuel, the son of Daniel Forbush. In 
1808 he married Rhoda Andrews, whose 
home was on the hill near where Dis- 
trict No. 2 schoolhouse now stands. 

Between 1806 and 1810 the Boston and 
Worcester turnpike was built. 



17 



This road between Roxbury and 
Worcester went, as all other turnpikes 
of that time, in a straight line. No hill 
was cut down or valley filled up. The 
coaches rushed up and down hill, some 
times crowded, a dozen people being in- 
side and several on top. • The fare from 
Worcester to Roxbury was two dollars. 
When the coaches arrived, the hurry 
and excitement at the baiting places 
was great. They brought the outside 
world with all its news and budgets, 
past the little towns that had lived 
without it so long. 

The Forbush Tavern was one of the 
"baiting places" at which stage drivers 
and teamsters stopped. Mr. Forbush 
was one of the best known landlords on 
the old stage route in Worcester County. 
He also had a very large farm and kept 
a large number of cows and sheep. The 
wearing apparel for the family was 
made from the wool which was spun 
and woven by the children. Flax was 
also raised on the farm, and the linen 
for the table cloths, sheets, etc., for the 
tavern, was made in the house. Twice 
a year, spring and fall, a shoemaker 
came to the inn to make shoes for the 
family. 

In 1813 the soldiers enlisted for the 
war stayed for a while in Lambert For- 
bush's bam. When the roll was called 
one morning it was found that three 
men had nianaged to escape by digging 
out undei* the sills. They were captured 
and tak^i to Fort Warren, from which 
they -s^n made their escape. One, 
Lovett '"^Bixby, went to the Indians, 
where -^e married the chieftain's 
daugHterh She was loaded down with 
rich ^tnatnents which he soon succeeded 
in obtaitfing and then came back to his 
own kindred. 

Lambert Forbush died in 1824. 

In 1825 Lovett Peters, administrator 
of the estate, sold the property, 16 acres 



125 rods including the dwelling house 
to Martin Bullard, the heirs with the 
widow, Rhoda (Andrews) Forbush as- 
senting to the administrator's account. 
John Warren, Jr.. was guardian of the 
heirs, 

On the same day. Mar. 14, 1 825, he 
deeds the above to Samael Forbush, an 
uncle of Lambert. This Samuel For- 
bush was born in 1771. He conducted 
a large farm and also a market business, 
carrying beef, pork and other farm 
products to the Boston market. He 
held the office of selectman for the 
years 1816-19. 

In 1823 there was a Restorationist So- 
ciety in Shrewsbury, to which some 
W4st borough people attached them- 
selves, among them Samuel Forbush. 
He died in 1827. 

On June 23. 1828, the heirs of Samuel 
Forbush, Orestes, Caleb, Lowell and 
Sally (wife of Edmund Harrington), 
deeded the whole estate to Elam 
Stearns for $3532 72. 

For five years, beginning with 1820, 
the house was occupied as a tavern and 
post office by Captain Silas Wesson. At 
the end of that time he built a new 
tavern at Willow Park, now owned by 
the Lyman School. To this new build- 
ing he removed his tavern business and 
post office. 

Elam Stearns owned the place until 
early in the year 1832 when he commit- 
ted suicide by hanging himself in the 
woods back of the house. 

He left the place by his will, probated 
June 5, 1832, to Silas Howe, son of Luke 
Howe of Northboro. 

In 1873 Silas Howe deeded it to N. 
Porter Brown and R. F. Bishop. In 
1874 R. F. Bishop deeded his share to 
N. P. Brown, and in 1885 N. P Brown 
deeded to Rev. Herman P. Fisher the 
house and land on the north side of the 
county road (Oak street) retaining for 



18 




The Parkman Parsonage. 

Built in 1750. Corner of East Main and High Streets Moved in 1867 to corner of High 
and Prospect Streets. Owned by Mrs. Pierce and Miss Taft 



himself the bara and land on the south 
side. 

The east side of the house is the old 
part. It contained originally, probably 
only six rooms. Later three rooms 
were added up-stairs There was a 
lartje stone chimney in the middle of 
the house. On the front were probably 
nine windows, The door on the right 
side of the front hall led into the bar 
room, and the one on the left into the 
living room. Back of the living room 
was the dining room, and back of that 
the kitchen. One whole side of the 
kitchen was taken up by the large fire 
place, brick oven and set kettle. 

The room over the bar was the dance 
hall and contained the only closet up 
stairs. It was a very large closet, ex- 
tending the whole length of the stone 
chimney, and was probably used by the 
dancers for their wraps. The rooms 
over the living room and the three new 
rooms were sleeping rooms. The 
bar room contained the only closet 
down stairs. This was the toddy closet. 
This closet has been divided into three 



closets; one for books in the living 
room, one for dishes in the dining room 
and one for clothes in the old bar room. 

In the corners of these rooms stand 
the square posts and across the middle 
of the ceilings run the wide beams. The 
walls are wainscoted. In one of the 
rooms the wainscot is a single board 
nearly three feet wide. The timbers 
of hewn oak are held together by oak 
pins. The nails used were made by hand. 
The old pounded latches are still on the 
doors. The west side of the house was 
built much later. The arrangement of 
the rooms is similar to that of the old 
part, but the marks of age, stone 
chimney, fire place, etc. . are lacking. 

The smaller barn back of the house 
was the private barn, only the family 
team being kept there, while the large 
barn across the road was the stage 
barn. 

The place must have been well sup- 
plied with water as there are at least 
four well-5 around the house. 

Mattie L. Fisher. 
Mar. 3, 1906. 



The Parkman Parsonage. 



Ebenezer Parkman was bom in Bos- 
ton, Sept. 5, 1703. 

His father. William Parkman, was 
one of the original members and after- 
wards a ruling elder in the North 
Church in Boston, at the North End. 

Ebenezer graduated at Harvard Col- 
lege, Cambridge, in 1721 and began to 
preach in 1723. We hear of him at 
Wrentham, HopMnton and Worcester. 



On the 21st of Aug., 1724, he was waited 
upon in Boston, by a Mr. Shattuck, and 
invited to preach in Westborough. He 
accepted the invitation and came up a 
day or two later on horseback, leaving 
Water town at 12.30 and reaching West- 
borough about dark. He preached the 
two following Sundays, — Aug. 25 and 
Sept. 1. 
Journeys in those days were not only 



19 



tedious, but sometimes hazardous. The 
woods were stocked with something 
more fierce than the rabbits and part- 
ridges of these days. Nor were wild 
beasts the only inconvenience of the 
solitaiy traveller on horseback 

Just at this time Indian hostilities 
were renewed, and the towns were 
full of nervous alarms. During his 
first visit Mt. Parkman walked to the 
meeting house from John Majiiard's, 
Saturday afternoon, Aug. 31, with pistol 
in hand. At four o'clock an alarm was 
raised and the people rushed to arms, 
but happily no Indians appeared. On 
Tuesday, the fii'st of Sept., 1724, a meet- 
ing was held of those who proposed to 
become members of the yet unorganized 
church and, on Friday following, they 
all called on Mr. Parkman, acquainting 
him with their proceedings and "their 
most happy union," and inquiring 
what he thought should be done farth- 
er. "They remained in conference" he 
said, "until sun down, and concluded 
with a prayer. " 

The young minister of those days had 
few ad\'isers. His older brethren being 
in scattered parishes, and there being 
no means of easy assembly, he would 
be left to work out his problems alone. 
But his mind was not whoUy ab- 
sorbed, even at this time, with the grav- 
ity of his position; there were sweets 
mingled with the sternness of his 
experience and while he consulted with 
the elders and read up on his duties, his 
heart was away at Cambridge, where a 
damsel of twenty-five summers, whom 
he knew, was busy with preparations 
for her wedding day. 

Sunday over, and the consultations 
completed, he rode back to Boston, 
where a week later on Monday, Sept. 
14, he was married to Mary, daughter 
of Samuel and Hannah Champney, 
With only a brief time for nuptial fes- 

20 



tivities, the young couple began prepa- 
rations for thsir removal and settlement 
in Westborotigh and in less than a 
month v/ere on the ground, and in their 
house. 

On the 28th of Sept. a town meeting 
was held and it was voted to ordain 
Mr. Parkman as pastor of the church, 
and Wednesday, the 28th of Oct., was 
fixed as the time. The council met at 
Mr. Parkman 's house, which stood near 
the rude meeting house in what was 
then linown as Chauncy Village. 

A covenant had ah-eady been pre- 
pared by Mr. Parkman. This had at a 
previous meeting b^^ea read, considered 
and signed by the candidates for church 
membership; twelve men, beside the 
pastor, who were to constitute the new 
church. There were no women in the 
church until the next July, when six 
were received; evidently the wives of 
some of the original members, includ- 
ing Mary, wife of Mr. Parkman. 

In less than twenty years after the 
incorporation of the town of Westbor- 
otigh, the people began to bring forward 
the question of the division of the single 
town into two. 

In Feb., 1744, Mr. Parkman recorded 
in his diary that he had received in- 
formation that "a number of North 
side people met those of the South side, 
to gather subscriptions to a petition to 
the General Court that the town may 
be divided." This petition was pre- 
sented to the General Court, and the 
result was that while no new tovm was 
then created, nor was to be for more 
than twenty years afterward, the North 
side was made a separate precinct, with 
power to elect its own officers, transact 
its local business and to constitute a 
separate parish, while the two precincts 
were to assemble for town meetings, to 
be held alternately in the meeting 
houses of each precinct. This was in 1744. 



On the 23d of Jan., llin, the people 
of the first precinct unanimously re- 
quested Mr. Parkman to remain their 
pastor. 

In 1748 there was a proposal made to 
build a new meeting house and it was 
voted to build twenty-five or thirtj' rods 
easterly from the Burjang Place. This 
was the old cemetery opposite the Town 
Hall. 

Finally, the old meeting house was 
taken down, its materials were used in 
the structure of the nev/ house, which 
in later years was familiarly knowTi as 
the "Old Arcade." 

Mr. Parkman still lived in the par- 
sonage beside the site of the old meet- 
ing house, a little more than a mile 
awaj' from the new one. On Sundays, 
he had not time to go home for his 
lunch between services, which was a 
great inconvenience, and as it was 
hardly consistent with the dignity that 
pertained to the office to carry it with 
him and eat it in the meeting house, 
and as no one offered to invite him in, 
he was obliged evidently to pay for his 
meal, for he petitioned the precinct to 
assume the expense of it, but at a meet- 
ing on the 28th of Nov. it refused the 
request 

This state of affairs necessitated the 
building of a new parsonage. "By deed 
of date, April 5, 1750," we quote from 
Mrs Forbes' notes in the Parkman 
Diary, "he had purchased the following 
described tract of land from Nathan 
Brigham of Southborough. " "A cer- 
tain tract of land measuring five acres 
and a hundred and twenty-six rods, 
situate on the Plain Northerly of the 
Burj-ing Place in the first Parish in 
Westborough, Westerly of the road 
leading to Sutton and is bounded east- 
erly and southerly by land left for a 
way & by Forty rods of land left for the 
Meeting House and four Rods for 



Stables, and likewise by the Burying 
Place. Westerly by the land of Capt. 
John MajTiard, Northerly by sd Park- 
man's land & Northwesterly by Com- 
mon land." 

In Jan. the neighbors had met to 
break ground for the new house, — the 
spot occupied by the residence of the 
late Dr. William Curtis. The fi-ame 
was not raised until the Sept. following 
and the building progressed very slow- 
ly. But the work was done thoroughly 
for the house is still standing just be- 
yond the High Street School House; its 
oak timbers as sound as when first 
built. 

"The house was well built and con- 
sidered by some men extravagant, and 
Mr. Parkman himself records that he 
was criticized rather sharply by Dea. 
Tainter because his window frames 
were so large." "And although," writes 
Mr. Parkman, "I rebuked him for thus 
speaking, especially as there were many 
persons present, yet I was disturbed 
thereat; and the frames were larger 
than I intended, and I would rather 
they had been smaller. " 

The exterior of the house (aside from 
the "L" and the front entrance) the 
stairway and the two front rooms re- 
mained the same as when built until 
changed by the present owners. 

The original house had on the ground 
floor, parlor, sitting-room, kitchen, sumr 
mer breakfast-room, with fire places in 
each room. Above were five chambers, 
and two in the attic. 

The "L" was built in 1800 and had a 
kitchen, a dresser on which shone Gen. 
Ward's pewter platters and bright cop- 
per tea kettles and skillets. 

The original paneling remained in the 
fi-ont rooms, which were deemed "high 
fijiish" in those days. 

When the house was moved to High 
street the "L" was sold to Michael Lane 



21 



and moved to Willow street, and be- 
came his dwelling place. 

"In the following August Mr. Park- 
man remarks in his Diary, he is obliged 
to move at once, although the house is 
unfit to be occupied,— the hearth is un- 
laid, the banks of gravel on each side of 
the door are unlevelled, and moreover 
there is no pasture for a cow, and no 
grass or hay for the horse. But move 
he must and the register, less reticent 
than he, tells us why. We find that he 
moved in on the 20th, and that on the 
22d a child, Samuel, appeared upon the 
scene, keeping up the regular succession 
which for more than twenty years hard- 
ly failed to bring a new life into the 
parsonage once in two years. " He had 
sixteen children in all, of whom only 
two died in infancy. For fifty-eight 
years, Mr. Parkman served as minister 
to the Westborough church. 

For the town it covered the growth 
from the pioneer settlement, when In- 
dians lurked in the woods and the roads 
were unbroken, to the day of schools 
and comfortable homes, and well tilled 
farms and strong civic Ufe. When he 
came Chauncy Village had but just 
been included in the town of West- 
borough. It contained less than fifty 
f amihes in an area nearly twice as large 
as it has at present. He had seen it 
grow to double its population and di- 
vide into two, and the southern town 
become as large as both had been at the 
time of division. He had ministered in 
the fii'st meeting house during the whole 
of its existence and in the new one un- 
til it had become too small and had 
been enlarged and again overflowed. 

In Sept., 1781, Mr. Parkman began to 
show signs of failing health. On the 
16th of June, 1783, he wrote in his 
Diary, "It is fifty-eight years since I 
gave my answer to ye Town's call to ye 
ministrv." "Few men," another has 



well said, "have ever been able to wiite 

such a sentence as that For 

the man, it spanned all the years be- 
tween the youth of twenty-one, fresh 
from his studies, preparing for his mar- 
riage and for the opening duties of his 
profession, to the old man of seventy- 
nine, — faculties failing, limbs growing 
weak and tobtering; the whole of life 
behind him. " 

Rev. Elisha Rock wood says of him. 
"It is greatly to be regretted that no 
good portrait of him survives, to give us 
a clearer conception of the outward 
aspect of the man. His bearing was 
always in keeping with the honorable 
position he occupied. He magnified his 
calling, and was careful not to lower his 
dignity; but he was at the same time 
kindly and courteous. ... He 
was, indeed, a bishop who believed that 
it was for the highest interest of his 
flock that they should be ruled, and he 
ruled them; but his sway was gentle 
and reasonable, and his assertion of his 
rights not so effectual as to prevent his 
suffering some inconvenience, and in 
his old age some actual want, through 
the neglect of those who were in duty 
bound to provide for his necessities. . 
. . . The pages of his Diary are full 
of the lights and shadows of daily Ufe, 
while pervaded by the sturdy and rever- 
ent faith of the men of his time. . . . 
His theology was such as the age pro- 
duced. It could not be broad, for 
breadth of culture was an impossibility; 
but neither was it bigoted or unintelli- 
gent By his patient labors, 

in season and out of season, through 
times that tried men's souls, he and the 
men and women who toiled with him 
wrought out a noble beginning for those 
who came after him." 

From a sermon preached on the 100th 
anniversary of the founding of the church 
we aotd the following item of interest: 
22 



"In the course of Mr. Parkman's long 
and useful ministry, 382 persons, in- 
cluding the first members, were re- 
ceived into his church; 1346 were bap- 
tized, and 2'')0 couples were by him 
joined in man-iage. By his records it 
appears that in the year 1740, a society 
of young men was formed for social 
l)rayer and religious improvement; and 
in ihe year following a society of young 
women consisting of thirty members, 
was formed to attend to religious exer- 
cises and catechetical instruction. And 
it is worthy of notice that this year, a 
greater number was added to the 
church, than in any other year except 
two, dui-ing Mr. Parkman's ministry. 

Mr. Parkman died Dec. 9, 1783, and 
was buried in the present Memorial 
cemetery. A horizontal slab marks the 
grave and bears on it a noteworthy in- 
scription. 

After his decease the church was 
without a pastor for more than six 
years. Several candidates were heard 
and two of them, the Rev. Adouiram 
Judson. afterwards settled in Old Ply- 
mouth, aud the Rev. Edward MiUs of 
Sutton, were invited to settle; but want 
of unanimity in the choice, probably, 
induced them to dechne. 

But at length, in 1789, the Rev. John 
Robinson was consecrated to the pastoral 
office, which he held until 18U7. 

Feb. 28, 1789, the heirs of Mr. Park- 
man deeded their rights in his estate to 
Eujah Brigham, who had married in 
1780, Anna Sophia, the daughter of the 



minister, and had lived in the parson- 
age. He continued to live there so that 
it has generally been known as the 
" Judge Brigham " house. 

He served Weetborough for many 
years as repre.sentative, senator and 
councillor. For sixteen years he was 
judge of the Court of Common Pleas 
for Worcester County. He was elected 
to congress in 1810 and was a member 
of that body until his death in 1818. 

His third wife was daughter of the 
famous patriot. Gen. Ai-temas Ward of 
Shre wsbury . 

On Dec. 30, 1839. the heirs of Judge 
Brigham deeded the estate to Orlando 
Leland, — " the principal part of v,'hat 
was set to the widow as her dower." 61 
acres 2.5 rods 

Sept. 24, 18.?1. Orlando Leland sold 
the same to Reuben G. Holmes, whose 
death occurred last January. 

On July 24, 1858, William Dickinson, 
the assignee of Mr Hohnes, deeded it to 
Edwin H. Lovell. Mr. Lovell, Oct. 23, 
1862, deeded the same to Jonas and 
Lewis Rice. 

The Messrs. Rice. Jan. 17, 1867, sold it 
to Dr. William Curtis, who moved the 
house to its present location, in order to 
make room for his new mansion. 

On April 14, 1887, the executors of 
Di-. Curtis sold the house and land to 
Joseph Smith, who on Sept. 23, 1903, 
deeded it to Mrs. E. T. Pierce and Miss 
Cora Taft, the present owners. 

Louise S. Kelley. 
April 9, 1906. 



25 



The Breck Parkman Shop. 



It is only ju?t to those wlio have 
gathered so much valuable material 
from the scattered journals of the Rev. 
Ebenezer Parkman, to saj' publiclj\ 
that these from which I shall quote to- 
night have not been purposely with- 
held. They descended to my mother 
fiom her uncle, Robert Breck Parkman. 
grandson of the Rev. Ebenezer. 

Realizing their value to her, and fear- 
ing that at my death they might fall in- 
to strange hands and be critcized through 
ignorance, I carefully wrapped and hid 
them, some years since, with wi-itteu 
request that they be 'burned without 
opening.' 

When this paper was suggested I be- 
thought myse'f of this hidden treasure. 
Turning to it I found a mine of valuable 
information, before unknown, just a 
little of which it is my privilege to bring 
to you. 

The Rev. Ebenezer Parkman was the 
grandson of Thomas Parkman of Syd- 
m-;nth, old England, and son of Wil- 
liam Parkman of Devonshire. He was 
horn in Boston, Sept. 5, 1703. In 1724 he 
married Mary Champney of Cambridge. 
To them were born five children, Mary, 
Ebenezer. Thomas, Lydia and Lucy, 
Mrs. Parkman died after an illness of 
about a week, Jan. 29, 1736. 

In Sept. 1787, he married Hannah 
Breck, of l^Iarlboro. To them were 
born 11 children, Elizabeth, William, 
Sarah, Susannah, Alexander, Breck, 
Samuel. John. Anna Sophia, Hannah 
and Eli as. 



(Of Mr. Parkman's lineal descend- 
ants there are are now living six great 
grandchildren and 14 great-great-grand- 
children.) 

Madam Parkman (Hannah Breck) 
was one of my intimate acquaintances 
in my girlhood days, notwithstanding 
she died iu 1801 and I was born many 
years later. 

Her portrait stood in our attic for 
many years, for age debarred it from 
the better rooms of the home. It was in 
a black frame and was itself a black 
and white i.iainting, without light 
or shade, representing a very masculine 
woman. Her hair was well covered with 
a ruffled cap, extending under her chin 
Hf r sleeves finished at the elbows, with 
ruffles. Her cheeks were hollow, her 
mouth large, set in expression and 
speaking reproof and displeasure. 
Whichever waj' I turned and in all my 
most innocent play, her look of cold 
disappi'oval followed me. I'ousing my 
dislike to such a degree that I spent 
many hours in looking her out of couu- 
teuiince and making faces at her, which 
I am glad tc saj' my mother never knew. 
Her portrait, with that of her son Breck 
and his wife, was given to my uncle, 
r>r. John E. Tyler, for many years super- 
intendent of the McLean asylum, and 
is still in the possession of Miss Denny 
of Boston. 

Breck Parkman. her sixth child, was 
born in the parsonage at Wessonville, 
Thursday mornin=?, Jan. 27, 1749. He 
bore the family name of his mother. 



24 




Thk Bkeck Parkman vShop. 

Occupied in 1777. Corner of East Main and Summer Streets. Moved in 1865 to corner of 

South and Cedar Streets. Owned by Mrs. Cronican. 



Hia youth was speut in farming and 
learuic^ the carpenters' trade. We tiud 
him in Dec. 1771. at work for himself in 
the shop. In March 1772, he finished 
his school and returned home. In April, 
he plans to set up a store, for 
he is in .some perplexity about Mr. 
David Hills coming to set up trading in 
the neighborhood. He also hears of one 
Mr Gillam Bass of Boston hiring a part 
of Deacon Wood's house and designing 
to open a shop of goods there, and tries 
to dissuade him. April 25, he is pre- 
paring the shop, putting up shelves to 
receive ecods. He goes to Boston for 
goods and settles his shop, marking his 
goods, etc. May 5 he h:is customers 
fl'icking to him. There is an interest- 
ine: account of the rivalry between the 
traders. Tlie parson's indignation and 
reconciliation to Mr Bass and family, 
are of interest. 

On Aug 28, 1772. is a record of the 
building of the shop, which is the sub- 
ject of this sketch. Having secured the 
consent of the proprietors of the ad- 
joining stables, "a number of hands 
(to 40) came together and moved the 
stables aforesaid— and the shop— and 
rai.sed a store 35 feet long but 8 feet 
post. No disaster. D. G." Sept. 7, 
workmen are closing, digging, stoning, 
etc. 

From the journal of June 1773 to July 
1775, we find him interested in the pur- 
chase of goods and in this modest store 
which stood on the land purchased by 
his father in 1750 from Nathan Brigbam 
of Southborough. 

On June 24, Mr. Parkman makes 
mention of the shop when he writes: 
"Reckoned with Breck and paid him his 
Boo.1 Debt." Breck was at this time 24 
years old. "My son John at work for 
Breck making a house for him. Mr. 
Spring works on the little house to the 
value of 7 shillings, 6 pence, old tenor. 



Mr. Fisher here to make the bench of 
the little house but not the partition 
from the rest of the house." 

In Aut^ust, mention is made of Miss 
Susie Brigham. whom Breck afterwards 
marries, as at work for Mrs. Kelley, al.«o 
makes a gown for Mr.=». Baldwin. She 
undertakes to make a DnCape for Mrs. 
Parkman. Later she iiiade sundry 
gowns, stayed after ms.jting, losiged 
worked foi- Sophy and Hannah in mak- 
ing new crape gown.s. 

In Sept. Sophy is at Breck's shop 
Breck returns from Mendon with the 
Vendue of the Wilder goods. In Oct. 
Breck has hired Mr. Jacob Snow to 
work for him in building a pew in the 
meeting house; with him Joshua 
Chamberlain and they diet here. Breck 
in the aflernoon sets out for Boston, 
lieturned at evening Says be saw a 
poor criminal hanged. The crime was 
Burglar}-. His name was Levi Amey. 
O! that the others might take waruitg. 
hear and tear, and do no more so 
wickedly. 

Eliasgoes to Mr. Whipple's mill with 
a team loaded with s.ilt to be ground, 25 
bushels, for his brother, Breck. 

Breck and a number met at Lieut, 
Baker's in order to unite in a society to 
collect a library of useful books. 

January 1774, Breck and John ride on 
the sleigh to Shrewsbury and return. 
An exceedingly cold season My son 
John at the JMiuisterial Lot cutting 
wood and sledding from thence. 

The snow very deep. Mr, Hancock 
sledding for Breck. Extremely cold: 
too cold for John to sled wood, having 
already his heels froze, and Ben Clark 
two fingers. Extremely cold. Susie 
Brigham lodged here last night, Breck, 
John and Hannah ride in a sleigh to 
Boston. Breck hires Mr. Joseph Bond 
to go to the Ministerial Lot, breaking 
the way to Mr. Beetou's for a Load. 



25 



At evening John Fay here and lodged 
in Breck's Store. My lane back of the 
Meeting House so full of snow banked 
up and blown compact and hard, that 
there is no passiuij but upon it. 

At evening Breck and John returned 
from Boston. 

March. Both Breck and Susie ill last 
ni2:ht and droop today. 

Breck goes to Wrentham— returns, 
and acquaints me with having hired a 
man to work for me for six months. 

April. Mi.«s Susie Brigham here from 
Day to Day, assisting Sophy in her 
work. 

Breck assists in filling, loading, and 
emptj'inc Goods. Breck nigh evening 
goes home with Susie Brigham. Breck 
went for Mr. Morse to Northborough 
and Shrewsbury for Gloves, etc . in 
preparation for the funeral of Mrs. 
Morse. 

Mr. Fisher came again to his work, 
had also Mr. Moses Sever to vpork at the 
wall on which the nev/ fence is erected, 

Breck returns from Boston. He tells 
me he went to see my Brother, who is 
more and more infirm. An awful 
Superannuation. 

01 that I might be useful while I live, 
and ready and willing when God shall 
call me. 

July. Breck goes to Military meeting 
at Lieut. Baker's who I hear chose one 
of the Captains to settle their affairs. 
Breck has a large company who stop at 
bis store. Breck paints the sign of the 
Blue Anchor for Dea Wood 

August, The Tow n met again on the 
affair of subscribing the agreement. I 
am informed that my son Breck found 
it necessary to subscribe. 

My son Breck has caused Joseph Cul- 
lock to come to my work of laying the 
wall leading Northerly from the Store. 

Breck e:oes to Lancaster for Trees, re- 
turns and relates wtiat John met -with 



from a Thief, who lodged in the same 
chamber, at Mr. Lock's Tavern in Lan- 
caster, Picked his pocket, and carried 
away two Pocket Books, — but he re- 
covered them, and the Thief was put in 
"Worcester Jail. 

Sept. My son Breck with provisions, 
Bread. Meat, etc., Coats, Blankets, etc., 
for it was rainy, — rides down toward 
Cambridge to relieve Asa Ware. Mr. 
Spring and others who were unprovided. 

Dec. Miss Susie Brigham here still. 
Miss Abigail Woods works for Breck 
making clothes for him— but diets and 
lodges here. Breck goes to Lancaster. 
Am concerned about Breck, who does 
not come home till late. Difficult 
weather, and night dark, till at length 
he came, with his Mare in hand, 
strangely and suddenly distempered. 
Mr. Benjamin Willard. Clock Maker, 
dined here. 

January, 1775. We had uncommon 
trouble today in breaking a way to the 
Ministerial Lot — Breck very much fa- 
tigued. 

Susie Brigham here— (a month later) 
here with Miss Abbie White stayed over 
night — (a month later) continues here 
making stays. 

Mr. Saml Fay very much disturbed 
with me that I don't make my son 
Breck pay him for his dead Mare, or 
turn him out of doors if he will not. 
Such was the unreasonableness of his 
conversation with me, and that he 
would not come to Meeting until he had 
satisfaction. 

At an adjourned church Meeting the 
Committee from Mr. Fay reported that 
he was greatly offended with me be- 
cause I kept my son Breck. I made a 
short speech. It was put to vote but 
no stand up. Nothing was done. Ad- 
journed for two weeks. 

Breck went to Mr. Samuel Fay's and 
tried to make up with him. Had Dea. 



26 



Wood to assist him in it, but in vain. 

April. Suphy keeps Breck's shop her- 
self, neither did anybody lodge in the 
store last night. 

Agreed with Aaron Warrin to live 
with me and do my work, for six 
months, for £75. old tenor, and I am 
to let him have a few things out of my 
son's shop pretty soon, also, some money 
if he shall need it, when he has earned 
it. 

Sophy had a letter from Breck that he 
inclines to list bnt has not. He thinks 
to return home. 

Susie Brigham came last night which 
made the ninth person beside my own 
family. So today we are 13. 

Much that the missing pages contain 
would greatly enhance our story, but 
there is much which we may conjec- 
ture; for during those 21 months the 
store, which had been enlarged from 
time to time, had come to be known far 
and near as 'Breck Parkman's Shop. " 
Its proprietor was novv 28 yeai*s olO, and 
was not only striving to enlarge his 
business, but was dreaming of a young 
girl in Morthborough, whose charms 
had so engrossed his thought, and his 
heart, that the serious question of mar- 
riage was mingled with all his daily 
toil. 

His hopes wei-e not without founda- 
tion for Miss Susie Brigham already 
loved Breck and was ready to enter 
life's path with him They were mar- 
ried by the Rev. Peter Whitney of 
Northborough, Jan. 9th, 1777. The 
bride was 23 years old. 

At the beginning of the remaining 
journal. Sept. 3, 1777 to Oct. 31, 1780, 
we find Breck setting up his clock 
bought at Vendue at Boston. 

This clock dates back to the year, 
1768, or thereabouts, and was made by 
Edward Clarke of No. 9, Holburn, 
England, 



27 



How much of history its hands re- 
corded as it measured the weeks and 
days of 45 years in the "best room" of 
the happy young couple, we may never 
read. In its quiet faithfulness it wel- 
comed ard watched over the seven 
children whom God sent to gladden 
their home, — all of whom followed in 
the footsteps of their honored parents 
and grandparents. 

It was the property of Breck Park- 
man until his death in 1825. It then 
went to his son, Robert Breck; at his 
death, in 1855, to his sister, Charlotte 
Sophia Parkman, wife of Hon. George 
Denny of Boston; at her death to Au- 
gusta Maria Denny and her husband. 
Dr. John Eugene Tyler, Jr., both grand- 
children of Breck Parkman, and in 1900 
descended to Robert Breck Denny of 
Boston. 

The present owner sets priceless value 
on this heir-loom, and for his own pas- 
time wrote the following verses, which 
are pasted on the inside of the long door: 

TO THE OLD PARKMAN CLOCK 
Faithfully for one hundred years 
You've pealed the hours away 
Unmindful of the joys or tears 
Allotted to each day. 

Three generations' story told ! 
Now steady as of yore 
You tick the seconds clear and bold 
The same as heretofore. 

How little did your maker dream 
Your works would run so well, 
Or ship could sail on seas serene, 
Without a storm or swell. 

Much less he thought of future praise. 
As skillfully he formed 
Those patient wheels In by -gone days. 
That have this race performed. 

Unnumbered months will fly apace, 
Still with a measured beat. 
Time's record on your placid face. 
With watchtul care you'll keep. 

R. B. D. 

I would say that these lines were 

written by Mr. Denny without thought 



that they would be given to the public, 
but the veneration they express, not only 
for the old clock, bat for our ancestors 
is worthy of Record. 

Returning to our .lournal of Sept., 
1777, we read: Breck obliged to ride at 
evenine: to Major Champney's, at South- 
borough, on account of commissions to 
be brought to this Town. Breck re- 
turns from the Army in the West and 
has endured his excursion considerably 
well. Thanks to God for His favor. 
Many people going over the Post Road 
to see the Regulars in their moving 
toward Boston. Breck, Susie, Elias and 
Sophie ride there. Gov. Burgoyne's 
Army are expected to be on their road 
to Boston. We are disappointed in the 
Worcester Spy; nobody goes for it. Mr. 
Howe dines here, being at work for 
Breck. Breck papers his lesser room 
and Elias helps him in the p. m. and 
evening. Breck sets out for Hartford 
on public Business. Susie having a 
Horse from her Father, and Sophie with 
Breck's mare, rode away (tho' a cold 
season) to Leicester, designing to visit 
farther. Breck returns from Lebanon. 

March, 1778: Breck makes a business 
of Book Binding, especially Singing 
Books. 

April: I went to the ministerial lot, 
for Breck is getting timber there for a 
back room to his store. Breck has 
raised a leanto additional to his store, 
dimensions 27 by 12 ft. 

May: Mr. Lamson at work for Breck 
on his additional building. Breck with 
Mr. Lamson shingles the roof of his 
new Store. Mr. Lamson & Mr. Jona- 
than Batherick at work with Breck in 
boarding the sides of his additional 
building. 

June: Mr. Moses Nurse having 
brought a load of Earthen Ware from 
Danvers to Breck's store, 1 took the op- 
portunity to give him solemn admoni- 



tion and charge concerning his absence 
from the House of God. Breck met 
with disaster by his stairs into the up- 
per story being shocked, the supporting 
timbers being thrown down. Breck in" 
formed me that Mr. David Stowe's son 
was at the shop. 

Oct. 22, 1778: About three in the 
morning we were alarmed by Breck, 
Susie being in travel. Near Sunrise a 
little daughter was born. Both mother 
and child in a hopeful state. All glory 
to God the Deliverer — and may his glory 
be perfected. 

Sunday afternoon in consideration of 
the baptism of Breck's child, I preached 
on Gal. 3:14: "That the blessing of 
Abraham might come on the Gentiles 
through Jesus Christ: — that we might 
receive the promise of the Spirit through 
faith." 

The child was called Hannah Breck. 
At eve went down to Breck's and had 
our evei)ing exercise there. May God 
graciously accept us in these various 
solemnities, and may the blessing of 
Abraham descend on us through Christ. 

This child was my grandmother. 

She married Dr. John Eugene Tyler of 
Mendon and Boston, who was one of the 
orisrinal organizers and first deacons of 
Park St. church. At his death she 
moved to Westborough with her five 
children and lived in the home of her 
father, Breck Parkman, until her death 
in 1834. 

In 1781, Susannah, the second child 
of Breck and Hannah Parkman was 
born and in 1809 she married the 
Rev. Elisha Rockwood, who was pastor 
of the Congregational church in West- 
borough for 27 years. 

Up to this time the "old shop," with 
all the additions and alterations we have 
noted, was rapidly growing too small 
for increasing business. 

This, with the advent of two daugh- 



28 



ters into tho house, made the question 
of larger accommodiitions a 8tern neces- 
sity. What should be done was the 
burden of their thought and prayer, for 
to build with their limited means meant 
greater bucrifice than they had yet 
known. But they were young and 
strong, and bound together by a love 
which cuuld overcome all obstacles and 
through which, with God's help and 
leading, (for He was a partner in all 
their interests) the decision to build was 
fast culminating. 

Doubtless the good father appreciated 
their increasing need, for we find that 
in Nov 4, 1782,116 deeded the lot (309 
square rods) and the store to his son 
Breck. This lot lay east from the meet- 
ing house, 45 feet distant, while the 
store corner was 10 feet farther east on 
the front of the lot. 

Already, as early as May 29, the record 
reads, '"Breck is moving the stables, 
granery and necessary office that he 
may prepare the ground for his build- 
ing an house." This was raised July 
10, and stood between the shop and the 
parsonage. It was 28 feet front and 
30 feet back. "Through the goodness 
of God there Wcis no evil occurrent. 
One hundred and 15 parsons were enter- 
tained." Aug. 6, workmen are idaily 
boarding and closing. Oct. 8, Breck!s 
mason lays the foundation of his chim- 
neys. 

This house was later moved and be- 
came the ell of the sleigh shop on Sum- 
mer street. I imagine it was a very 
plain structure without any of the con- 
veniences wbich we of today demand as 
necessities. But the peace of true love, 
with the greater peace of God, "which 
passeth all understanding," dwelt there, 
all of which made life look very bright 
to them. 

Into this home svece horn five ebildr 
ren, Charles, Robert Breck, of whom I 



may spea"k later, Anna called Nancy, 
Mary Augusta, and Charlotte Sophia, 
born in 1800— she being the youngest — 
while my grandmother, Hannah Breck, 
was the eldest of the children. 

Business still continued in the old 
store, which we have seen ealarged by 
the ^dt'iitiou of rooms heretofore occu- 
pied by the family. Subsequently a 
partnership was formed with Judg,e 
BxiKham, a brotheiMn-law of Breck's. 
We have a day l)ook, dating from Mar. 
3, 1703, to April, 1794, with account of 
sales,— the initial.'^ P. & B, (Parkman & 
Brigham) srracing the first page. 

The first charge was to Jeduthun Fay 
for "Sugar, Rum, tow cloth and mo- 
lasses." There were also charges for 
"Rice. Biscuit, Tea, Powder, Shott, 
chalk, iron, handkerchiefs, Buttons, 
Shawls, Lawn, Wine, Glass, stockings. 
West India Rum, tJrandy, Eggs, Red- 
wood. Files, Twist," etc, etc. The 
variety of articles kept for sale was 
greater than that of the present depart- 
ment stores, as we shall sea Nails 
were also sold by the hundred; one 
charge a hundred for 10 pent5e. Could 
this be the origin of the name given to 
a certain size nail called "ten penny 
nail?" 

Following the list of articles kept, we 
find "Shoes, Hats, Bottles^ crockery, 
Bibles, Spelling Books, Writing Paper, 
Blank Books, Sole Leather, Boards, 
Shingles, Harnesses, Veal, Pork, But- 
ter, cheese, N. E. Rum, Buckles, Shal- 
loon, Buckram, Fustian, teapots, candle- 
sticks. Flour." 

Somewhere between the years of 1794 
and 1798, Parkman Ss Bngham built a 
store on the south side of Main street, 
which at the writing of the History of 
Westborough stood in the rear of Cen- 
tral block, where they attended to busi- 
ness for a time. Later the partnership 
was dissolved, -when Elijah Brigham 



became a member of congress. Be died 
in Washington Dec. 22, 1818. Our 
journal says he was greatly lamented, 
"highly respected in his death, and 
honored at his funeral." A monument 
was erected to his memory in Wash- 
ington. 

Breck Parkman continued business 
in the store already noted on the south 
side of Main street until 1798— when he 
erected a long, low, two-story building 
on the west side of Main street, where 
the present Postoffice block now stands. 

At this time his two sons, Charles and 
Robert Breck, aged 13 and 11 years, 
were, doubtless, showing boyish inter- 
est in the store, and gave promise to 
the fond father that some day they 
would take his place. With this in 
mind he watched their growth to ma- 
turity and to the consummation of his 
anticipations. 

He died in 1825, at the age of 76 years. 
He gave directions about his funeral, 
told where to obtain boards for his 
cofiSn, etc. He died perfectly resigned 
with strong faith in Christ. 

At his death the management of the 
business fell to his oldest son. Charles, 
who later owned and lived in the house 
which stood on the present site of the 
Whitney House. He had eight child- 
ren, one of whom, Mrs. Maria Denny 
Parkman Leach, survives him. 

By the father's will, allowed in 1825. 
the dwelling house, the Nourse place and 
all lands between, were left to his son, 
Robert Breck. He was a bachelor, of 
singularly nervous temperament. Not- 
withstanding his peculiarities he was a 
godly man of much faith and prayer, 
He died in Hartford, Conn., in 1855. 

At the death of Charles, in 1834, his 
son, Charles Breck Parkman, succeeded 
him in the business. After superin- 
tending it for a few years, his interest 
turned toward the west and he later 



located in Indianapolis, where he died 
in 1885. 

Many were the proprietors of the old 
Parkman store during the next 35 years, 
men of sterling principles and marked 
business ability, of whom much might 
justly be written. 

On the night of March 20, 1868, this 
ancient landmark was totally destroyed 
by fire. The next year the present 
PostofBce block was erected on its site. 

In 1835, "Breck" (as he was called) 
had deeded to his nephew, Charles 
Breck Parkman, "all right to the real 
estate devised to me by my father. 
Breck Parkman, of any description." 

On a map of 1837, the shop stands in 
the name of C. B. Parkman. In 1842, 
it passed to Rufus Harris, li acres. In 
1853, R. Harris sold the shop and lot 
west of it to A. Davenport, A. J. Bur- 
nap and A. M. Howe. 

Could we open the pages of history 
which time has written, our story 
would read like a tale of fiction. But 
they are sealed. The withering grasp 
of age had so defaced our once honored 
shop that it could no longer grace the 
Beacon street of Westborough. Hence, 
it was removed about 1855 to the south 
side of Summer street, to the site now 
occupied by the Nourse trellis factory. 
It there served as a dwelling house for 
George L. Bannister and Mrs. Annette 
Bullard (now Dudley). 

In 1863, it was put on wheels and car- 
ried to Milk street, near site of the Gould 
& Walker factory, but before it was un- 
loaded it was bought by Patrick (3roni- 
can and on May 5, 1863, was moved to 
its present site at corner of South and 
Cedar streets. 

Through the kindness of its present 
owner, Mrs Biidget T. Cronican, I was 
permitted, a few days since, to examine 
the old house, with the hope that some 
initials or figures cut into the wood 



might be found which would give a 
word from out of the long ago.— but the 
accumulations of years had obliterated 
every vestige, only the old stairs and 
main beams proved its advanced age. 

The old part of the house consists of 
three rooms and a small front hall. 
Through the courtesy of Mr. Cronican, 
I have a plan of it, which anyone inter- 
ested can examine, and which as a 
society we should hold amongst our 
valued papers. 



The Parkman Diaries. 



From the journals referred to in the 
foregoing article, I want to give you 
Mr. Parkman's account cf a journey on 
horseback to New Haven, Conn , and 
return, with his bride Hannah Brack, 
in Sept. 1738. the year following their 
marriage. 

The previous June of the same year 
he writes: My honored and aged 
Mother undertakes a journey to West- 
boro with me. My wife riding single, 
and my Mother behind me. We 
changed horses, and by that means my 
Mother had a very comfortable journey, 
and we got up in good season, through 
the great goodness of God. Later, he 
adds, my Mother in great comfort re- 
turned home. When she took her leave 
of my family, and blessed them, among 
other of her expressions, this was re- 
markable: She kissed my two Sons, 
saying, "God Almighty bless the Lady, 
and make them a Blessing." 

Sept. 6th. About nine this morning 
my wife and I sat out upon our Journey 
to Springfield and New Haven, on my 
own, and cousin Winchester's horses. 
Mr. Tainter bore me company to Mr. 
Cushing's. Dined seasonably and com- 
fortably at Col. Chandler's at Worces- 
ter. 



P. M. rode to Richardson's at Brook- 
field by about quarter after five. 
The Richardsons were heretofore Mai- 
den Milk-folks to our family at Boston. 
They were very obliging, and would re- 
ceive no pay for our Oats. We got to 
Mr. Cheney's a little before candle 
light, but were so unhappy as to find 
neither Mr. Cheney nor Madam at 
home. Mr. Cheney was gone to wait 
upon a number of Gentlemen who were 
upon the Road. We tarried with Mrs. 
Dolly Hawley. Dr. Pynchou of Sprinji- 
field came in and tarried over night 
likewise. 

In the morning about three quarters 
after eight, we sat out with Dr. Pyn- 
chon's company. At half after one ar- 
rived, weary and tired, at Scott's, in 
Kingston. Dined there. Left Scott's at 
half past two. One Mr. Ball of Sj.ring- 
field. an Irishman, bound to Glascow, 
added to the company. At Lamb's in 
Springfield at half after three. Nor- 
wich Indians there. Left at twenty 
minutes after four. Mr. Breck met us 
a little before we got to Town. Arrived 
by day-light, and not as tired as l^st 
night. 

8th. Rainy Day. The heavy 
showers were a great Blessing, it having 
been at a Time when there had been an 
unusual Drought. 

9th. Fair, bright day. I waited up- 
on Col. Wm. Pynchon after I had 
viewed the River, and the Burying 
Place. Some remarkable inscriptions. 
Whilst we were at Col. Pynchon's with 
President Holyoke, Mr. Williams of 
Longmeadow came and after him Mr. 
Hopkins of the other Parish. They 
shaped a scheme for my preaching at 
the West side, which I con.sented to. 

10th. Sunday. In the morning I 
crossed the River, and went up to Mr. 
Hopkin's. The first and second Drum 
beating to give notice to the People. 



31 



Preached on Luke 16:38. Tlie women 
all sat on the wrontr side of the Meeting 
House. Deacon Parsons very courteons 
to me, and walked with me to the ferry 
at evening. Cold niiiht. 

Mr. Holyoke and some number be- 
sides, were going up to Mt Tom (called 
so, as tradition has it. from one Row. 
land Thomas) and to Mt. Holyoke 
(called so from one of the President's an- 
cestors). But we rode to Longmeadow 
when the Frost of this morning which 
was very great was in a great degree 
gone. 

Mr. Williams, our Guide to the Suf- 
field Ferry. We crossed the Ferry and 
rode to Mr. Devotions at Suffield. A 
fine prospect on the North of SuflBeld 
meeting house. After kind entertain- 
ment, dining, etc., set out in the middle 
of the afternoon, rode to Windsor and 
Hartford, and were kindly entertained 
at Mr. Austin's. 

500 Hogsheads of Tobacco shipped off 
last jear from the Connecticut River, to 
the West Indies, and chiefly from Wind- 
sor. 

In Wallingford, or North Haven, & 
Vessel building some miles from the 
Water. Cornfield five miles long. 

A late sorrowful occurrence by 
thunder:— the Steeple shivered, a man 
thrown down from it and killed. Four 
persons buried in the Highway for Sui- 
cide. 

Pleasant fields on the North East 8id« 
of the Mountain. Stopped in North 
Haven. Called first at old Minister 
Pierpont's. College illuminated, geen 
two miles off. Mr. Edwards of North 
Hampton came to see me and walked 
with me to College. Several friends 
came in to see us at going off. Mr. and 
Mrs. Pierpont went some miles with us. 
]\Tr. Daniel Edwards and Mr. Belden of 
Norwalk were our company. Sorrow- 
ful leave taking of our friends. 



Dined at Hall's in Merryden, a comer 
of Farmington (as I remember), at three 
quarters after one. Set out again just 
an hour after. Halted at Wethersfield 
in the evening, and then though wearied 
and tired, we stood it out to Mr. Sec. 
Wyllis's in Hartford. 

In the morning proceeded on our 
journey. One of our Horses blundered 
overboard of the Ferry Boat, wet the 
side saddle, etc., but we received not 
much more Damage than the hinder- 
ance thereby. Our great suspense 
whether we should ride to Springfield, 
to which place we decided to go. Mr. 
Wyllis and Mr. Ellery accompanyed us 
as far as Grant's Tavern, where we 
dined, oat ed, -etc., and all at their ex- 
pense. Arrived at Mr. Brock's a little 
before day light down; nor were we so 
tired as at some other times. Mr, 
Brock rode with us two or three miles. 
Dined at Scott's 

Lost our way and wandered some 
time, but found our road so seasonably 
as to get to Mr, Cheney's in the first of 
the evening. Were cheerfully re- 
ceived and handsomely lodged. 

Sat out the next moraing from Brook- 
field. Dined at Mr. Oaddard's at 
Leicester. He sat out with us fo-r 
Worcester. 

Got home in Safety and found all 
things well, and in Prosperity. Blessed 
be the Lord who hath smiled on our 
going out, and returning home, who 
hath been our Shade upon our right 
hand, and preserved us and ours from 
all evil. To His Name be Glory from 
henceforth, and forever! 

This journey consumed fifteen daya 
It surely was full of pleasure to cur 
young couple, — but it was also full of 
dangers, hardships, and great weariness, 
which certainly appeal to us, who note 
the marvellous changes in the methods, 
and comforts of travel today. 



In a journal of the same year we 
read: Tcwn Meeting, the fourth time 
about the Meeting House, on repairing 
the old one, or dividing the Town, 23 
Votes out of 47 for the first. Small Pox 
in Town, in several places 

Feb. 1739. Mr. Pennell here with 
Linen Cloth. Town Meeting, in part to 
see what to do about making more 
room in the Meeting House. 

Mar. Town Meeting again upon the 
Article of the Meeting House, but still 
did nothing 

Apr. Powder Hill on Blaze, in a dry 
time, and an high wind and burnt me 
up all the fence upon the South East 
corner of my South Side. 

Oct. Town Meeting to grant my 
Support. Unanimous for 200£. 

Rode down to Lexington on Mr. S. 
Harrington's horse, Difficulty in find- 
ing the way from Weston. One Segar 
and one Mellage, my Pilots, it being 
Night. David Baverick and Sam 
Bumpso bargained with me to clear my 
swamp, for 40 shillings per Acre, and 
their dinners while at work. 

1740. A Fast was kept by this Church 
and Town on occasion of the Throat 
Distemper coming among us. Town 
Meeting for my support. Granted 120£ 
(without mention of wood) in case I 
supply the Pulpit this year. 

June 1773. The Town met partly to 
see whether they would build a steeple 
(a number of persons having subscribed 
to give a Bell, and Clock if the Town 
would prepare for them) but it passed 
in the negative. 

The Town met, again, to see whether 
it will be agreeable to them, to build a 
Steeple and have a Bell. Several per- 
sons have sub.scribed an hundred pound 
apiece. One (Mr. Seth Morse) 150£, 
Lieut. Baker 50 dollars, Capt. Maynard 
100£— but it did not obtain. A great 
majority against it. The carpenters 



raised the West Porch at the Meeting 
House. 

Of himself he writes: I am so near 
completing my 70th year that I have 
my thoughts running chiefly upon the 
words in Psalms 90:10— "The Days of 
our years are three-score years and ten, 
and if by reason of strength they be 
four-score years, yet ip their strength, 
labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut 
off, and we fly away." Next Lord's 
Day, if I shall live to it. will be the 
last Sabbath of my 70th year. My 
mind is very closely exercised hereupon. 
May the Lord help me in preparing for 
it, both my sermons, and the frame of 
my spirit 

Sunday morning. I now desire most 
unfeignedly. and with all my best 
Powers to Bless the Lord that I am per- 
mitted to see the light of this morning, 
and to begin another year of Sabbaths. 
On this my Birth-Day, I bless God I 
have some sense of my situation in Life, 
but wish it was more impressive and ef- 
fectual. May God graciously afford 
His Almighty influence! 

A Town Meeting to see if the Town 
would not consent to some alterations 
to be made m the situation of the Pews, 
proposed to be built before the foreseats 
below, and to take avray the great pew 
that is next to the Pulpit before, and 
above the Deacons' Seat. The former 
of these things the Town did nothing 
of; the latter wag accomplished. 

Oct. Blessed be God, who upholds 
me from one month tu another. May I 
have Wisdom and Grace suitably to 
improve my Time, this rich Talent! 

How swift my time flies! Another 
month gone. Lord make me to Know 
mine end 

The Town had a meeting to sell their 
Remnants of Stuff and Stock The car- 
penters and House joiners finish their 
work at the Meeting House The 



Painters and others are finishing the 
culdring and tarring over again the 
roof of the ^leetin^ House. 

A small numbpr assist me at evening 
in drawing oflE the gravel, from the 
knoll behind uLy house. Several men 
from tlie Meetiiig House here. A good 
job was done. Their treat was Drint 
and Bread and Cheese 

This being the last Lord's Day in our 
Ecclesiasticiil year, thanks were given 
to God for His grace, and long suffering 
in continuing us for the space of 49 
yeai's. A number of men v?ith teams 
bring stones and level the ground and 
make \\ hat steps they can at the East 
end of the Meeting House. 

Dec. Preached this morning on 2d 
Chron 6:18. on occasion of so far com- 
pleting and beautifying the Meeting 
House. 

Ripley and Eaton from College, and 
going home as Invalids, came this way 
and drank Tea. They informed me 
that there is a great stir in Boston 
against feuding the East India Com- 
pany's Tea. Sent by Ripley to Mr. 
Stephen Salsbury, Huntington's Ser- 
mons. 

Dec. 18. The world is filled with the 
news from Boston of the tumultuous 
rising and destroying many chests of 
Tea, sent by the East India Company. 
Mr. Mellen of Chanxit calls here. He 
confirms the shocking story of Presi- 
dent Lock's awful fall! May I suitably 
improve this tremendous trial! Let 
him who thinks he stands take heed lest 
he fall. 

I am asked to assist in a fast tomoi-- 
row at the House of Mr. -Jacob Gibbs on 
the South of Sonthboro, on occasion of 
a great mortality of Throat Distemper. 
The said Gibbs having buried four of 
his children within a little while; a fifth 
ill and like to die May the Lord 
sanctify this awful visitation. 



Dec. 25. I desire to give most hearty 
praise and thanks to God for the Birth 
of Jesus Christ, the great and only 
Saviour, though I don't know that this 
was the Day, nor do we publicly 
solemnize it as such. Thus closes the 
year O may I be prepared for the aw- 
ful time when my life shall close. 

Jan , 1774. How could I have imag- 
ined that so poor, weakly, and especial- 
ly that so sinful and unworthy a crea- 
ture would be spared to this Day! That 
I am in iulged with another New Year's 
Day still! The Divine compassion, the 
Divine faithfulness and Truth do never 
fiiil. 1 desire with all my heart, with 
all my Powers, to bless and praise His 
glorious Name. 

Feb. Returned from Mr. Gale's and 
found my son Alexander and his wife, 
with both their children, Robert Breck 
and Alexander, here. 

Exti-emely difficult to get wood. The 
snow lately fallen & blown about into 
the Roads and paths rendering them 
very impassable to the \\ ood Lots, but 
through Divine favor we have some 
supply at the door, which lasts yet. 

21st. A number of persons came and 
got wood for me, at the Lot which is 
called Capt. Epn. Brigham's. Eight 
went to cut, viz.: Messrs. Nathan 
Townseud. Benjamin Fay Jr., Arthur 
Gary, Joseph Keenes. John Fay, Richard 
Temple, Tim Parker, Abel Tenny, and 
John {mj' son) joined them. The fol- 
lowing numbers sledded, viz : Lieut. 
Baker with two teams, four oxen apiece; 
Barnabas Newton with four oxen; 
Capt. Benj. Fay's team four Oxen, drove 
by his son Stephen; Dea. Wood sent a 
yoke of Oxen to join with mine, and 
Mr. Jona. Grout drove them. They all 
went twice, and Mr. Moses Nurse also 
brought one load; in all eleven Loads. 
At night the most of them supped here. 
May God reward them and bountifully, 



and grant tne Grace to improve the 
Benefit. 

22d. They that went for wood yester- 
day, so broke the Way, & made it fit to 
sled in; & the cutters cut so much more 
than was brought home, that Lieut. 
Baker in his generousuese sent his t^am 
and man again today also to sled wood 
for me. and Mr. Newton in his goodness 
likewise, sent his team and man to sled 
np what was left and what another 
number of cutters cut, viz; Mr. Keene, 
John Fay hired, Stephen Maynard 
hired, Nathl. Chamberlin hired & Phin- 
ehas Brigham (son of widow Hitty). To 
the teams, add my own of three cattle 
& p. m. Dr. Hawes' steers instead of 
the mare, and my son John drove. 
Breck also procured Mr. Joseph Bond 
to come with his five cattle. They all 
went three times each — therefore twelve 
loads today. 

24th. John Fay works for me from 
day to day in cutting wood in the Brig- 
ham lot — does today, and Elias a. m. 
sleds with our team— p. m. Dr. Hawes's 
steers and his young man to drive. Mr. 
Jos Bond sleds today likewise. They 
brought in all today six loads. 

These items must impress us with the 
effort it cost to live in thos3 days and 
by comparison help us to appreciate our 
great blessings 

Oct. 22nd. In the morning we found 
the West window of the lower west 
room set up, wide open. Breck's desk 
open. The little front door open, with 
signs of violence in breaking it open: 
the lock broke off: three front drawers 
open, but nothing that we know of, as 
yet, missing: though the cupboard, 
where stood my silver cup, and in it a 
number of silver table spoons, also in 
another cup a number of silver tea 
spoons, was wide open. 

It was doubtless a Thief who wanted 
Money, who entered the house, for no 



one of my family knows anything of 
the matter, and the window was no 
doubt fastened as usual; but a middle 
square of glass in the lower sash was 
taken out, and laid carefully away. 
From r,he hole, with one's arm, the stick 
which fastens down the window could 
be reached, and was taken away. God 
be praised no further damage was done; 
and may God grant Repentance to the 
Burglar! 

Dec. 31st. Through the long suffer- 
ing of God I am brought to the close of 
another year. The occurrences of it 
have been remarkable, fispeoially by 
the changes in the civil Govei'nment. 
Gov. Hutchinson gone to England. 
Gov Gage in his Room. The General 
Court is moved to Salem, which is made 
the chief seat of Government. The 
counsellors made by Mandamus. The 
company of cadets resign, and are dis- 
banded. General Court soon dissolved, 
Boston Port blocked up bv men of war; 
the common, the Neck, and Fort Hill 
will have five regiments. The Conti- 
nental congress and the Provincial meet 
one at Philadelphia Sept. 5th, --the other, 
Concord and Cambridge. The Towno 
in confusion by reason that the Superior 
and Inferior Courts cease. Mobs & 
Riots, Whigs and Torys— as if our Hap- 
piness were nigh to an end! O God 
save us! 

Feb., 1775. Town Meeting on many 
articles, viz.: whether we shall pay 
minute men, contribute to relief of Bos- 
ton, etc. 

2l3t. Town Meeting and Training. 
I went, and spoke to them on the 'aead 
of their contributing to the relief of 
Boston, encouraging and exciting them 
to it. Willing to set an example my- 
self, but apprizing them that since I 
knew of a number of poor people whom 
I should desire to communicate to, I 
might have the favor to be myself the 



distributor of my own alms. I earnest- 
ly commenrled their exerting themselves 
to obtain Military skill, Arms and Am- 
munition, &c,— to improve their time 
well, when they have Meetings and 
training— to endeavor after unity and 
harmony (for I perceived there were 
jars) ;— Exhorted to put away sin;— to 
be the true disciples of Christ, and do 
their utmost to prepare for the will of 
God concerning them. My mind and 
heart are filled with apprehensions of 
our Political state. May God Himself 
pity His People. 

Our public state is more and more de- 
plorable. Unless the God of Infinite 
Mercy and Power undertake for up, and 
change the hearts of men how can we 
escape the ruin which threatens? 

Mar. 20th. Training of the Minute 
Men. People are variously tossed in 
their minds about the public state. We 
ride into Boston:— Viewed the King's 
Troops marching up School St., and 
went up to see their parade. 

In the early morning of March 30th 
there was a noise of four Regiments 
marching out of Town under Earl 
Percy. Everybody was ignorant of the 
design; all were full of conjectures. 
The most imagined they were bound to 
Concord, to disperse the congress setting 
there, or to challenge the stores laid up 
in the Court House. But after a short 
space, the mystery was disclosed; they 
turned toward Dedham, and after about 
five miles march to Jamaica Plain they 
returned. 

Apr. 8th. Mr. Nathan Fisher comes 
at eleven o'clock at night very much 
affrighted by what Dr. Hawes (who 
has come from the Provincial congress 
at Concord) relates to him of the public 
troubles. 

19th. I rode over to Northboro ex- 
pecting lecture,— but the world was full 
of alarms— the regulars ('twas said) had 



marched last night, and were gone to 
Concord— had killed six men at Lexing- 
ton— posts were flying to rally the min- 
ute men everywhere. Our minute men 
under Capt. Edmund Brigham had 
marched. Capt. Seth Morse with his 
men msirched. May the Lord of Hosts 
go with them and grant them salvation! 

20th. The King's troops had been to 
Concord and did much mischief, — at the 
Magazine in special; to flour, ordnance, 
ammunition, houses (several set on fire); 
a number on both sides slain. But the 
regulars returned to Boston. A num- 
ber of dead bodies chiefly of them scat- 
tered in the road. It is a day of so 
great trouble that it swallows up peo- 
ple's thoughts. Men are marching 
down toward Concord, amain. The 
news we have is very penetrating. At 
evening came Mr. Thomas Whitney, 
who had rid down as far as Charles- 
town. He has seen the sad effects of 
hot assaults and skirmishes The ac- 
count that the roads for a great way 
were strewed with dead men, is con- 
firmed. 

21st. In the morning Breck came 
home, having rid in the night. Relates 
that h^ met with difiBculty in getting 
out of Boston; was stopped and searched 
three times; his sword and Pocket Pistol 
were taken away, but with much 
trouble, and going back into town and 
obtaining a permit from Collector Ham- 
ilton, they were restored. He went to 
Cambridge. Saw the great Multitudes 
that were gathering. He saw one 
buried without ceremony, and four 
moi*e, who were slain there, were bulled 
in one grave. Men are continually 
marching. 

25th. Breck receives orders from the 
Captain at Cambridge to go to the Min- 
ute company. 

26th. Breck leaves us to go to Cam- 
bridge. 



86 




Built before 1764. 



TiiK Moses Brigham House. 
West Main Street near Nourse Street. Owned by G. A . Ferguson. 



38th. The last uight wasvery rest- 
Ifps to me, viewing the increase of our 
troubles. Boston close shut up, and 
the inhabitants in the utmost danger. 
Not a little concerned for my Son and 
brother. 

An admirable company from New 
Haven under Captaiu Benedict Arnold, 
have marched down. 

May. Letter to be delivered to Breck 
at Cambridge. He came home from 
Cambridge, arrived this morning about 
half past two: Relates another disaster, 
by the accidental going off of a Gun. 

June. Breck returns from his jour- 
ney to Cape Ann. Relates that our 
Provincials have taken 400 sheep from 
Deer Island, 



Sunday while we were at exercise 
came the clerk of a large company of 
soldiers from Hartford, with compli- 
ments of Col. Geo. Pitkin, that I would 
go to Dea. Wood's and pray with them. 
In the morning he came again; the 
company being paraded before the 
Meeting House, I went and for con- 
venience stood on the steps of the front 
door 

News flies abroad that a Body of 
Regulars are gone over to Charlestown, 
and burned the Meeting House. An 
awful judgment of God upon us! 

This journal here ends, July 24, 1775. 
Sarah Fayerweather Gould. 

May 3, 1906. 



The Forbes Homestead. 



My earliest memory goes back more 
than fifty years to a picture.'?que old house 
fronting on the country road from West- 
borough to Grafton. It is the oldest of 
three houses now grouped together on 
the old Forbes Homestead, although 
possibly not so old as the venerable elm 
tree so rent and broken by the ravages of 
time that its branches can hardly shelter 
its congenial neighbor with its long 
sloping roof and old fashioned * 'linter " 

The front hall is nearly square and 
the narrow stairs, with their triple 
turns, lead from it to the chambers in 
the second story. On the right of the 
front door is the parlor, which used to 
be invaded only on extif'aordinary occa- 
sions The heavy timbers appear in the 
corners of this room, and of that across 



the hall, which used to be called the sit- 
ting room— each nearly 20 feet square. 
The center ceiling timber, a foot wide, 
has been enclosed with smooth boards 
in the parlor, but in the sitting room 
the bare oaken timber shows the beauti- 
ful wavy surface, made by a skillful 
workman more than 150 years ago. 

These two front rooms enclose between 
them the immense chimney, which 
rests with its four flues, on a stone 
foundation about 10 fset square. Above 
the cellar the chimney is of brick and 
is finally so drawn together that it 
emerges from the garret but four feet 
square. 

Back of these rooms, looking out upon 
a steep declivity, is the long narrow 
kitchen, which, with the little bedroom 



37 



to the north, occupies the first story of 
the lean-to or "linter." as it is called in 
old deeds. At the northwest corner of 
this bedroom was an old Balm of 
Gilead tree, whose sticky but medicinal 
buds and tassels of flowers, succeeded 
by cotton enveloped seeds, were a con- 
stant delight. A row of Louibardy 
poplars helped sustain the cellar walls 
on this back side of the house. On 
either side of the front door were two 
lilac trees which constantly but unsuc- 
cessfully struggled to become bushes 
after the manner of lilacs, by sending 
up every spring and summer myriads of 
new red sprouts, which were ruthlessly 
cut down. Over the two large front 
rooms were originally two chambers of 
equal size, later divided by simple 
painted board partitions into four nar- 
row chambers. The southeast chamber 
was occupied by my parents, and as far 
back as I can remember, my brother 
and I occupied a trundle bed, which, 
each morning was pushed under the 
larger bed, there to remain until the 
very early evening hour, when it came 
rumbling forth to receive its small but 
tired tenants. We retired so early and 
the summer labor on the farm continued 
so late, that I remember being hastily 
called from my bed and dressed, so that 
I might aid my aged grandfather in 
bringing home the cows from Bentland 
pasture, more than a mile away. He 
was more than 80 years old and some- 
what stiff. He drove a small bay horse 
in a large two- wheeled chaise, and ex- 
cited my terror, at times, by following 
the cows grazing by the roadside over 
rocks and hummocks, so that he might 
reach them with his whip. I used to 
let down the bars, which were made 
light for a boy of five to handle, and oc- 
casionally had to hunt among the berry 
bushes for missing cows or chase them 
out of some orchard whose owner had 



left the bars down. The stairs leading 
to the bare unfinished attic passed an 
opening on the right which was a place 
for the deposit of newspapers and other 
rubbi.sh. It was a dark mysterious cave 
leading buck to the chimney and branch- 
ing out in devious ways that I neyer 
dared to explore. I was never very 
much afraid of the dark but always 
breathed a sigh of relief when, after 
.some errand to the garret, I had passed 
this opening in safety. 

Back of the chambers in the second 
story was a garret under the sloping 
roof and a little chamber over the one 
to the north of the kitchen. In this 
little room was enacted weekly the 
family episode, usually accompanied by 
howls from us boys that the water was 
too hot, followed by the maternal assur- 
ance that it was not. An eJl built on at 
three different periods extends from the 
kitchen southward 27^ feet and for a 
width of 17 feet. In this was first a 
pantry, then a milk room, and neyt a 
wood room. 

Within my memory the old brick 
ovens were used to bake the sixty 
Thanksgiving pies. The mince and puff 
paste crust were _ made according 
to a receipe which had come down in 
my mother's family from the time, 
before the Revolution, when an ances- 
tor of hers received it from her English 
teacher of cooking in Boston. 

When I was seven years old my 
father built the house now owned by 
Mr. N M. Knowlton and the old house 
opposite was made into two tenements 
for the hired men. 

In the south corner of the sitting 
room is a built-in cupboard, which with 
its hand carved work, emphasizes the 
fact that this house was much finer than 
most of the homes of the first settlers. 

The driveway then as now led down- 
ward to the new barn south of the L of 



the house. A little farther back from 
+he road and farther sou^^h was the old- 
est barn, the north end of which be- 
longed to my father and the other to 
his father Dea Jonathan Forbes. The 
latter's barn yard extended from this 
oldest barn to the road and was bound- 
ed partly on the south by the upper 
barn and a shed. My grandfather 
moved out of the oldest house to that 
across the road now owned by Mr. 
Goddard in l8-4"3, when my father was 
married and moved into the house I 
have described. It stood on land owned 
continuously by six generations of his 
ancestors from 1682, 35 years before 
Westborough became a town. The 
well is in front of the south end of the 
house. Its liquid contents were former 
ly extracted by a chain pump, as well 
as by a pump in the kitchen. The 
barnyard was supplied by running wa- 
ter from a spring in the Maynard lot to 
the south, through wooden logs now 
replaced by a lead pipe. The 
same aqueduct supplied the 

trough in my grandfather's barn-yard, 
which was separated from ours by a 
board fence. The south barn was 
moved by Rev. C B. Kittredge across 
the road to the present site, back of the 
Goddard house, soon after he had 
bought the latter place from my aunt 
Eliza Sophia Forbes. Close to the road- 
side and just north of the barn-rard 
stood the old cider mill and carriage 
house owned in common by my father 
and grandfather, the former having the 
north end. Before my memory begins 
the ungodly cider mill had been re- 
moved. The only thing remaining that 
went around was the grindstone. The 
hired men delighted in seeing if they 
could bear on hard enough with their 
scythes to stop my turning the stone. 
Every autumn, with my fingers in my 
ears I watched the progress of a fat 



porker up the hill from the pen under 
the barn, to the old mill house where 
the hogshead of hot water received him. 
as soon as the village blacksmith had 
shown his skill in the ancient art of 
phlebotomy. 

In the brief time allotted to me, I can 
but briefly sketch the history of this 
old house and of the land on which it 
stands. I have written a sketch of the 
Eaton Grant of which The Forbes 
Homestead was a uart and this is print- 
ed in the History of Westborough 
Theophilus Eaton was the first governor 
and the leading man in the New Haven 
Colony. Under his influence these 
early settlers in Connecticut in 1689 ig- 
nored King Charles I of England and 
the laws in force in the old country. 
Without recognizing their allegiance to 
any earthly sovereign they voted to 
adopt as their civil and criminal code 
the laws of Moses as given in the Old 
Testament, except the ceremonial part. 

For more than forty years the colony 
of Massachusetts Bay owed Gov. Eaton 
and his heirs the £iO which was the 
consideration for the 500 acres granted 
to his heirs in 1680 and being the tract 
known later as the Faj' Farm It re- 
ceived this name from the fact that the 
Brothers John and Samuel Fay actual- 
ly built houses and lived on this tract 
while their uncles Thomas and John 
Brigham allowed their two-thirds to 
remain unimproved till many years 
later. 

Th(y purchased this grant from the 
Eaton heirs in 1682. Thomas Brigham 
took the central position of this giant 
for his share with some detached lots in 
the Assabet meadows and at the west 
end. He died Nov. 25, 1717, having 
deeded this tract, on which the three 
Forbes houses now stand, to his son 
Capt. Nathan Brigham of Marlborough. 
The latter conveyed this tract to his 



39 



son Lieut. Nathan Brigham of Sonth- 
borongh and left a very interesting will, 
a copy of which I have with me. Capt. 
Brigham died Feb. 16, 1747. 

He was for seven years selectman of 
Marlborough, the parent borough town, 
and held many places of honor and 
trust. Ha left Lis widDw, among other 
liberal provisionM, the sum of £20 for a 
mourning suit. 

Lieut. Nathan Brigham, like his fa- 
ther and grandfather, never lived on 
this Eaton Grant but deeded it to his 
son Moses Brigham Feb. 7, 1754. No 
buildings or other improvements were 
men'ioned in the deed. Moses was 
then 32 years old and was married to 
Mehetabel Grout five years earlier. She 
was the daughter of Lieut. Joseph 
Grout who was living on the John 
Brigham third of the Eaton Grant, on 
what is now known as the McTaggart 
farm. 

Lieut. Brigham married Dinah Rice, 
sister of Silas and Timothy Rice, who 
were "captivated" by the Indians in 
1704 and later became the leading chiefs 
of the Canadidn Six Nations 

For his second wife he married Eliza- 
beth (Ward) Snow a widow with an 
unmarried daughter. His son Moses 
was not married until he was twenty- 
seven years old. The step-daughter 
had decided upon marrying him herself, 
when she learned that her step-brother's 
trips to the Eaton Grant were not for 
the sole purpose of clearing up a farm 
for his home, but to enjoy the fascinat- 
ing society of the fair Mehetabel. Fi- 
nally in a fit of jealousy she hamstrung 
his horse. Instead of keeping Moses 
for herself by this stratagem she drove 
him the earlier to Lieut. Grout's for a 
bride and to the new house still stand- 
ing by the old elm. It is not probable 
that any house v as built on this farm 
until about the time of his wedding in 



1749. An aunt born in the old house 
told me more than forty years ago that 
it was then more than one hundred 
years old. 

In 1728 that part of Sutton, now the 
home of the town poor, was annexed to 
Westborough. The first Dea. Jonathan 
Forbes a son of the Scotch eiaigraut 
Daniel Forbes, lived here at that time. 
He owned several hund. ed acres in that 
vicinity including the grist and saw 
mill. His son, Rev. Eli Forbes, married 
Mary and Lucy, daughters of Rev. Eb. 
enezer Parkman. 

His son, Jonathan, alio a deacon, 
bought a large part of the farm and 
died before his father, leaving a large 
family of children and a widow Joanna 
daughter of Dea Simon Tainter, who 
lived cm the adjoining farm. One of 
these children, Jonathan, also elected a 
deacon, married Sarah, daughter of 
Moses Brigham. The latter died in 
1769 and all of the home farm except 
the widow's third was set off to his son 
Moses. This third Jonathan Forbes 
bought the farm from him in that year 
and for the next century it was owned 
by him and his descendants. 

The inscription on his slate head- 
stone in Memorial cemetery closes with 
these words. 

"Afflicliona sore long time I bore, 
Physicians were in vain. 
Till God did please with death to seize 
And ease me of my pain." 

He died June 3,1805. and was succeeded 
as owner and occupant of the old house 
by Dea. Jonathan Forbes, his son who 
in turn was succeeded by his son Dea, 
Ephraim Trowbridge Forbes, the father 
of the writer of this sketch. Since his 
death in 1863, the bouse has been owned 
by his widow Catharine White Forbes 
and his son-in-law Chas. Brigham Kit- 
tredge. Mr. Kittredge. the oldest son of 
a former Westborough pastor. Rev. C. 



40 



B. Kittredge, married Catharine Salome 
Forbes of the eighth generation of 
Brighams and their Forbes descendants 
who continuously owned this estate. 
The present owner and occupant, 
George A. Ferguson, bought this place 
from Mr. Kittredge in 1871. 

Additional Parkman Manu- 
scripts. 



In the library of the American Anti- 
quarian Society in Worcester there are 
three bound volumes of the Diary of 
the Rev. Ebenezer Parkman. One of 
these is a book in which he wrote only 
on his birthdays. Of the other two 
books, the first covers the years from 
August 1, 1723, to Sept. 4, 1728 The 
other commences Januaiy 1, 1756 and 
closes May 31, 1761. These books were 
giveu to the iSociety in 1835 and were 
apparently the last things that were re- 
ceived by their brilliant young librarian, 
Christopher Columbus Baldwin, before 
his trip to Ohio which resulted in his 
death. We reach this conclusion be- 
cause they are the last gifts recorded in 
the Gift Book in his hand writing,. 
Looking over this Book a few weeks 
ago we noticed that not only the Park- 
man Journal was given to the library 
at that time, but "very many manu- 
scripts." These things were donated by 
Charles Breck Parkman of Westbor- 
ougb. 

In one of the rooms of the Society, 
not open to the public we found two 
portfolios marked with the Parkman 
name, in which there have been kept 
safely for seventy years and more, about 
sixteen years of the Diary and other 
papers of great interest. 

This newly discovered Diary covers 
the following periods of time; — 



From January 1 1743 to January 15 1743 
" January 1 1744 to January 22 1745 
" January 23 1745 to December 31 

1745 
" January 1 174S to December 31 

1747 
" January 1 1748 to December 31 

1748 
" January 1 1750 to January 23 1751 
" January 24 1751 to January 31 1753 
*' January 1 1754 to December 31 

1754 
'• June 14 1764 to June 30 1766 
" July 1 1766 to December 31 1767 
'• January 12 1768 to July 3 1769 
" November 10 1772 to November 21 

1772 
" July 24 1775 to August 31 1777 
Besides these years of the Journal 
there were sermons upon more than 
one hundred and forty different texts, 
and on some texts they varied in length 
from a few pages to one, at least, of 
one hundred and fifty three pages; small 
pages, to be sure, but written in an ex- 
tremely minute hand. 

There was also a manuscript book, 
evidentlj' prepared for the pr^ss, called 
"Memoirs of Mrs. Pierpont " Mrs. 
Pierpout was the wife of Rev. James 
Pierpont of New Haven and seems to 
have been a very intimate friend of the 
Parkmans. In fact in the Diary for 
1746 we find this entry on the auiuver- 
sary of the marriage of Mr. Parkman to 
Hannah Breck;— 'But how ardent and 
united were we this day nine years agol 
when our nuptials were celebrated at 
Mr. Pierpout's in Boston." 

There are also a number of papers of 
his college days, a few family letters, 
some books of manuscript poems, etc., 
which he had copied, and other less 
important papers. 

It would seem that one of these port- 
folios, containing cnly sermons, was 
given to the Society by Rev, Francis 



41 



Paikinan of Boston. Certainly some of 
the sermons were received from him. 

This newly discovered Diary, like 
that we have known so long 
13 i*ieh in local historical ma- 
terial and quaint and interesting pic- 
tures of the day. 

Among other things we have the date 
when Stephen Maynard's house was 
finished; -'Febrnary 1 1765, I dined at 
Capt. Maynard's. The carpenters finish 
there." May 1.5 1766 "I went to the 
raising of Lieut. Forbush's house and 
was at the entertainment." 

A very few extracts from this rich 
mine must be suflBcient for today. 

In 1745 Mr. Parkman speaks of the 
death cf two children of a Mrs. Billings 
and adds"They were buryed by the new 
Meeting House. The first that have 
been buried in that place." 

A few days later, still another child 
died in this family and he writes;— 
"Sept. 16, 1745. a story has got about of 
a dream of Mrs. Billings and which I 
took the freedom to inquire into and 
which she confirmed, viz. that she saw 
a man bring the coffin of her youngest 
child into the house, upon which she 
took on, bat presently there came in 
another man with a large coffin and 
said to her that she had not need to take 
on for her child, for here was a coffin 
for her also, for she should die next. 

N. B. Mr. Ha'.e who lives near the 
new burying place ('tis 3;ud)saw a large 
coffin as well as a email one in the air 
just over the burying place last Tues- 
day evening immediately after the bury- 
ing of Mr. Billings his children, 
which stories much fright people about 
Mrs. Billings' death." 

The cemetery thus referred to in 
September 1745 cannot be Memorial 
Cemetery, for Mr. Parkman knew the 
burial place of his flock from the time 
of his arrival in Westborough in 1724 



for more than half a century. His first 
wife, Mary Champney, the mother of 
his five oldest children, died Jan. 29, 
1735 and a modest headscone still marks 
her grave in our oldest cemetery. In 
the great Book of Records of the Pro- 
prietors of Marlborough on page 294 we 
find this entry — "At a meeting of the 
Proprietors held at the Meeting house 
in Marlborough 2nd Monday in Janu- 
ary 1727-8, Set apart \\ acre of land in 
Westborough, where the inhalltants 
always have buried their dead on the 
westerly side of the road leading to Sut- 
ton to be for a burying place for ever." 
In book 2nd, page 177 is a record of 147 
rods of land laid out to vVestboroiigh 
South Precinct. I hold in my hand the 
original layout. 

In Book 1 at page 297 is a record of 
three acres granted to We.stborough for 
a burying place, and this is supposed to 
be the old neglected and abandoned 
town cemetery in Northbc rough on the 
north side of the road leailing ea-^terly 
from the road to Westborough and be- 
ing the first road to the cast after cross- 
ing the boundary bridge over the Assa- 
bet River. I have a plan of this dia- 
mond shaped cemetery received from 
Mrs. Geo C Davis of North borough, 
whose husband owned land on three 
sides of it. The old headstones are 
either prostrate or buried in the forest 
which now covers these graves of the 
pioneers of that part of the larger West- 
borough. 

November 30, 1750 Mr. Parkman 
made the following interesting entry: 
"Billy as he was cutting wood at the 
door cut his ancle. The wound was 
somewhat crosswise and bled very 
much. It was in the forenoon when 
his brothers which wei-e able to do any- 
thing were gone from home: Ebenezpr 
to work for Mr Rogers and Thomas to 
Mr Goddard's Mill. (Thomas was then 



42 




The Thomas Forbush Housh. 
Built before 1732. Corner of East Main and Lyman Streets. Burned June 27, 1895. 



21 years old and Bill}- 10 yrs ) We tried 
Puff Ball to stop the bleeding but to no 
purpose. After some time the blood 
running fresh still, we took off the bind- 
iu.^s and filled the sore with sugar but 
neither did this succeed. We sent 
about noon for Mrs. Hepsibah Maynard. 
both the Captain and his wii'e came. 
It seemed to be stanched for a time but 
flowed again. He had now bled so 
much that we were concerned at the 
event. Thomas was groaning at the 
toothache and wanted to go to 
Dr. Smith to get his tooth drawn 
out. 1 therefore hastened him al- 
though it was evening to bring the Dr. 
to Billj'. We had also tried the scrap- 
ing of tanned leather and scorched cot- 
ton and still fresh puddles appeared. 
N. B. Several times when it was opened 
the blood spurted out as in phlebotomy. 
While Tommy was gone and tarried 
long, our fears arose higLi, for Billy had 
lost so great a Quantity of Blood that he 
began to turn pale and we did not know 
but that it was still running. I ardent- 
ly committed him and his case to God 
who is a perfect help in time of trouble. 
After a while the Blood ceased as we 
conceived nor did any more appear 
throughout the night. Blessed be God 
for his sparing Mercy! Thomas did not 
come till past uin 3 o'clock and no doc- 



tor with him, but got his own tooth out; 
or rather a part of it, for it broke in 
the jaw. Molly is also in great anguish 
with toothache so with my own lame- 
ness we have no small trouble in the 
house. But I humbly wait on God. 
My wife watched with Billy." 

Three years and nine months of Mr. 
Parkman's Diary are now in the col- 
lections of tbe Mass. Historical Society, 
Boston. Two years and six months be- 
longing to Mrs Edward Tuckerman of 
Amherst, Mass have been printed by 
the Westborough Historical Society. 
Ten years and sis mouths are bound up 
in the library of the American Antiqua 
rian Society, Worcester, MaiS Six- 
teen years, unbound, are in the same 
library. Six years and three months 
are in the possession of Mrs Sarah 
Fayerweather Gould. Possibly other vol- 
umes of this Diary are in existence. 

Westborough is fortunate above most 
country towns in having the chronicles 
of its early life and of the daily 
thoughts and doings of its early inhab- 
itants preserved in such interesting 
fashion by its best informed and most 
graphic penman for at least thirty- 
nine years and four months. 

William T. Forbes. 
Worcester, June 16, 1906, 



The Thomas Forbush House, 



The subject of this sketch is the an- 
cient house which formerly stood in a 
field, or large lot, far back fi-om the 
junction of Lyman and East Main 
streets. The avenue which led up from 



Main street to the house is now marked 
by a row of large trees 

Years aud years ago, Daniel Forbush, 
born in 1620, left his home in Scot- 
land and came to America. In 1C6U 



43 



he married Rebecca Perriman of Cam- 
bridge. Thomas was born in 1667. be- 
ing the second son, and brother of 
Samuel, whose house was the subject 
of the March calendar. We find his 
name among the signers of a petition in 
1702 for a new town to be set off from 
the old town of Marlboro. The tract 
asked for included not only the present 
territory of Westboro and Northboro 
but the whole of Shrewsbury, a large 
part of Boylstou and a wide strip of the 
northern section of Grafton. There 
was much litigation concerning bound- 
aries and ownership. The petition was 
not granted and the village of Chauncy 
remained a part of Marlboro for 15 
years longer 

Thomas Forbush's name appears in 
Rev Mr. Parkman's diary as one of the 
27 "first families" of the town. In 
those early and struegling days there 
was the same pride of blood and priori- 
ty that obtains today. 

Thomas Forbush was one of the 12 
men beside the minister to form the 
new church in October, 1724. No wo- 
man's name appeared until the follow- 
ing July, when six women were re- 
ceived. Evidently there were no sew- 
ing circles or church suppers in those 
'•good old days." We find Thomas 
standing up in meeting opposing the 
minister, whom he accused of not fall- 
ing in with the vote of the town on 
some important matter. Whereupon 
the minister arose and laid down the 
law and right in such a masterful way 
that "there was peace for 40 years." 

Thomas Forbush married Dorcas 
Rice and set up housekeeping in the 
house we are considering. We are all 
familiar with its exterior appearance. 
There were two rooms front, one each 
side of the seldom used front door; back 
of these, extending nearly the entire 
length of the house from east to west, 



was the kitchen. A very small room 
was partitioned off from one end, which 
was used as a cheese room, a very im- 
portant place for the making and cur- 
ing of this most valuable and edible 
product of the farm. Doubtless the 
sleeping apartment was in one corner 
of the big kitchen, being well warmed 
and lighted by the flre in the wide and 
deep fire place. What better or more 
comfortable place in which to sleep 
when there was drifting snow and 
howling winds without? 

"What matter how the night behaved? 
What rcutter how the north wind raved? 
Blow high, blow low, not all its snow 
Could quench our hearth fire's ruddy glow." 

Perhaps the bride of today would con- 
sider it not quite up to her require- 
ments for a dainty boudoir, but there 
was much in that primitive life to bring 
out all that was heioic in man and wo- 
man. Here the children were born, 
grew to manhood and womanhood, 
Mr. Parkman writes in his diary August 
21, 1726: "I went down to Thomas 
Forbush's, and was intending to marry 
his dauter Eunice to Mr. Cornelius 
Cook, but they could produce me no 
legal certificate &c." He adds, the next 
day: "I again rode to Mr. Forbush's 
and married Cornelius Cook to Eunice 
Forbush (so they will spell their name.)" 
Aug. 18, 1728, he records, in speaking 
of the death of Mrs. Lieut. Forbush: 
"A very meek, patient, Godly person 
under her sufferings, she bore them 
many years of her life by sickness & 
suffering." 

Thomas' second son was born in 1695; 
married Hannah Bellows in 1719. He 
filled many offices of trust, from 1727 to 
1755, was selectman; from 1728 to 1751, 
town clerk. Thomas and Hannah had 
13 children. Thomas deeded to his son 
Thomas (grandson of the first Thomas) 
for $120, 35 acres in Chauncy Plain 



44 



with two dwelling houses and a barn. 
One of these houses still stands ou the 
west corner of Lyman and East Main 
streets, afterwards owned by Cornelius 
Cook, who had njarried Eunice For- 
bush. This house was known as the 
Cook house and afterwards was the 
pi'operty of Dr. James Hawes and 
known as the Hawes'. place. 

Ebenezer, seventh son of Thomas and 
Hannah, born in 1731, bought of his 
father in 1765, 300 acres of land; lived 
for some time in the house with his 
father, and was later administrator of 
the estate. 

In 1783 Ebenezer sold 100 acres to 
Thomas Andrews, who had married his 
eldest daughter Hannah in 1776, so as 
to contain one-half of the 200 acres he 
had bought of his father Thomas, with 
one-half of the dwelling house and barn 
and outhouses to be equally divided be- 
tween them. In 1790 Ebenezer sold his 
half to his son-in-law, Thomas Andresvs. 
In 1813 he sold to his second son, Elliot 
Andrews. 23 acres of the home faiua, 
with buildings, reserving the west end 
of the house. 

In 1816 Thos. Elliot Andrews sold 27 
rods at southwest corner of the lot to 
the First Baptist society for stables or 
sheds for the use of the attendants of 
the Baptist church, which was built 
that year on the west side of Lyman 
street between the Hawes house and the 
corner. The land was niortgased in 
1825 to Daniel Waldo and in 1826 to 
Caleb W. Forbush; in 1829 Onslow 
Peters acquired the equitj' of redeeming 
the part on the north side of the great 
road, and in 1831 all these parties re- 
linquished their rights in the land to 
Nehemiah Carter. 

In 1842 the latter conveyed 12i acres 



with buildings, which covered the site 
of the old house, to Merrick R. Stevons, 
and he the same in 1845 tn Em« line Abi- 
gail Bailey, wife of Sam'l. R. Bailey. 
In 1882 Samuel K. Bailey, son of the 
last named, who had the right by in- 
heritance from his mother, conveyed 
the same to Elizabeth S. Bailey of Mil- 
ton, in whose name the land was as- 
sessed in 1905. 

This house, called the Thomas For- 
bush house, must have been one of the 
oldest in town. There are three fami- 
lies, or some member.-* of these families, 
still livii.g here who have resided in 
the old house. Mr. Solomon Taylor Fay 
lived there before he built his hou.se on 
the adjoining lot on East Main street. 
Mr. Fay was guardian of the minor 
children of Thomas Elliot Andrews. 
Mrs. Brittan. mother of John W. Brit- 
tan, lived there in 1852, from whom 
many facts concerning the house have 
been received. The last family to live 
there was Mr. Patrick Haley. 

In early times every able bodied man 
was obliged to belong to the militia. 
This estate on the corner was the favor- 
ite meeting place for drill and the an- 
nual muster was held there when good 
cheer abounded much in the form of 
hard cider and New England mm. 
With a little help of the imagination 
one can see, as he passes by on the trol- 
ley cars, the companies forming, the 
strut of the drum major, and hear the 
command, right face— forward march. 

The old house with all its sweet and 
sad memories of birth, marriage and 
death is in ashes, having been burned 
June 29, 1895. 

Abby K. Harvey. 

July, 1906. 



45 



The First Davis House. 



"Built in 1707 to 1711— remodelled in 
1881," is the record that Mr. Broaders 
wrote on the stringer of the stairs in 
cellar way. If correct, it would make 
this one of the oldest houses in town. 
The earliest reference to it we have at 
hand in any deed is that of Oct, 11, 
1739, when John Chamberlin deeded it 
to Seth Rice. It stood near the Tom- 
bliu Bridge over the Assabet. The land 
comprised eight and one half acres, 
bounded on the north and east "by 
highway as it now goeth . . with dwell- 
ing house and fences and everything 
standing and lying thereon " 

In 1754, Seth Rice, who had served as 
Town Treasurer for four years some 
while before, sold the property to 
Phiuehas Maynard, his son-in-law, who 
had just before married his daughter, 
Dorothy Rice. 

In 1763, it passed back to Mr. Rice, 
who sold it with additional land on the 
west side of the river to Mr. Maynard. 
In the county road book of 1765. it is 
marked as the dwelling of Jonathan 
Hero. 

It was while in Mr. Maynard's posses- 
sion, we judge, that Isaac Davis lived 
there. In 1773 he had married Anne Brig- 
ham, the stepdaughter of Stephen May- 
nard and whose mother was the niece of 
Mrs. Parkman. They soon after occupied 
this house and together united with the 
church in 1773. Mr. Davis was a tan- 
ner whom Capt. Maynard sought to 
teach his trade to his son Antipas, hop- 



ing thereby to cure the lad of his dis- 
position ro wander from home. But the 
plan did not work. Antipas made his 
home with the Davis family, but one 
evening at Mrs Forbes tells us in "The 
Hundredth Town," he started forth 
with his belongings and was not heard 
from for twelve years. 

Isaac Davis and wife had several dis- 
tinguished sons of whom the elder ones 
were born in this house, but John, after- 
wards the Governor of the State, was 
born in the house bought by his father 
in 1781 originally built by Dea. Tom- 
blin on the North side of the river. 

The pastor, Mr. Parkman, often 
called at the first house, once in 1779, 
writing on his return from Shrewsbury 
"I stopt at Mr. Isaac Davis, about soal 
leather " 

•Isaac Davis," Mrs. Forbes writes, 
'is today remembered as 'large, tall and 
stern;' one of the representative men of 
his time. He outlived Anne Brigham 
by many years, and was twice married 
after her death." It was the joint own- 
ership which the second wife had with a 
former neighbor in a barrel churn, 
that led to the dispute, which Mr. 
Davis put an end to by sawing the 
churn in halves. 

Later he was prominent in his oEBcial 
relation as deacon in settling the diffi- 
culties that arose under the rather ar- 
bitrary ministration of Pastor Whitney 
of the North Church. 

It was this same good deacon of whom 



46 




Occupied in 1779. 



The FiKvST Davis IIulsk. 
Milk Street near Davis Street. Owned by G. H. Johnson. 



the story is told that he checked his 
grandson's delight, on the way to 
church, in the pranks of a squirrel, by 
"a sharp iwist of the ear and the quick 
reproof that 'squirrels are not to be 
mentioned today,' " 

1 find no mention of Mr. Davis' own- 
ership of this house and he was proba- 
bly tenant only of Phinehas Maynard, 
for in 1784. Daniel Steward and wife 
Dorothy, and in 1793, Calvin Rice and 
wife Betty (the wives being daughters 
and heirs of Mr. Maynard) sold their 
rights to Beriah Ware. In 1800 Calvin 
Rice and wife sold to Phineas and 
Joseph Davis, sons of Isaac, one half of 
twenty-two acres and the latter sold the 
same to Beriah Ware. 

The latter, in 1804, deeded fifteen 
acres with all buildings to Amasa May- 
nard. He lived in what is now known 
as the Wayside Cottage of the 
Lyman School. This tract passed in 
1805 to Fortnnatus Nichols, who two 
years later sold it with other land back 
to Mr. Maynard. 

In 1812, the latter sold to Jacob 
Broaders, cordwainer, the sixteen acres 
on which the house before as stood. 

This Mr. Broaders was the son of the 
old Jacob Broaders referred to in the 
Parkman Diary, but I find no evidence 
of his having owned the place. His es- 
tate was appraised in 1786 and did not 
include this. He may have lived here, 
as well as his son, Jacob Jr., for some 
time before he bought it. 

Mr Joho Cobb of Maiden, whose 
memory reaches back to the Broaders 
family who were his neighbors across 
the way in his young days, speaks of 
them in a kindly way. He recalls 
many boyish pastimes in which he took 
part with them 

"Mr. J. Broaders," he writes, "was a 
small farmer and besides a custom shoe- 
maker. He followed his trade when 



work was finished on the farm. He 
was a thorough workman. His only 
son, Hiram, when he was old enough, 
taught school and in after years when 
his father was getting aged attended to 
the farm exclusively. 

The elder Broaders was a great read- 
er and wiled away much leisure time 
reading the Egyptian hieroglyphics 
tilted back in his old kitchen chair. His 
greatest pastime seemed to be fishing on 
the Assabet stream. He was acquaint- 
ed with all the spots which the fish in- 
habited and he often trailed for pickerel 
and good luck always followed him." 

It is a pleasure to read of the good 
services that Mr. Ct>bb, at much sacri- 
fice, was able to render his old friends, 
especially when bereavement befell 
them, and the mother and father were 
called to their rest in 1847. 

The homestead of forty acres was left 
by the father to his son Hiram Lee 
Broaders, who always lived on the 
"Haven of Rest"' farm as he was wont 
to call it. He died in 1896 aged 77 
years. His administrator sold the 
property in 1897 to George H. Johnson, 
the present owner. 

It is very difficult to get any full des- 
cription of the old hcuse as it was ia 
the early days. It was two stories in 
front with the long sloping roof in the 
rear, and was in the early times paint- 
ed red. It occupied the same space 
that the main part of the present house 
now does. The rather deep cellar is 
under three-fourths of it, the other 
fourth being taken up with the stone 
foundation of the old chimney. 

In the four rooms in the first story as 
in those in the .second story, the corner 
beams and in most of the rooms the 
large cross beams in the ceilings are in 
plain evidence today. The-^e and the 
floor beams are seemingly sound and 
good for another century. Several of 



47 



the floors are still laid with the old hard 
wood boards, often eighteen inches in 
width. 

Owing to the short time that this de- 
layed sketch has been in our hands, 



much in it will be found imperfect, but 
anj' corrections or additions to it will 
be welcomed 

S. INGERSOLL BRIANT. 
August, 1906. 



The Gershom Brigham House. 



The Thomas Brigham of Marlborough, 
who bought, in 1683, the central portion 
of the Eaton farm and who willed the 
East part of this to his son Nathan, 
which was later the Forbes' homestead, 
bestowed sundry pieces of the West 
part of the farm to his sons. David and 
Gershom, October 8, 1733. David as- 
signed his interest in these to his broth- 
er Gershom of Marlborough, a physi- 
cian. 

These lands, doubtless, included the 
site of the old house before us. This 
Dr. Gershom Brigham conveyed in 1741 
certain pieces of land to his son, Ger- 
shom. among which were 80 acres form- 
erly a part of Sutton as it stood divided 
to him and his brother Nathan. The 
first mention that we have of the dwell- 
ing house is in a deed of May 26, 1743, 
of land "West and Southwest of where 
Gershom Brigham now dwelleth." 

This Gershom Brigbam, on November 
16, 1779. deeded to Dr. Gershom, his 
son, of Fitz William, N. H., certain 
lands and also "the East half of the up- 
right part of the dwelling house of the 
said Gershom Brigham with privileges 
in the cellar & well — also of laying in 
wood by the house through my land & 
of passing & repasdiug from the cause- 
way &c,'" 

On January 31, 1783, an additional 



deed from Gershom Brigham to his son, 
Dr. Gershom, runs thus: "To encour- 
age him to settle with me & in consid- 
eration of an obligation which my said 
son has this day entered into for the 
payment of certain sums of money to 
his sister Mary &c, I grant to him one 
undivided moity or one half part of my 
land in Westboro &c,also one undivided 
half of the kitchen part of my dwelling 
house & one half of the barn on 
premises." 

February 7, 1799, this land with all his 
other in Westborough passed to his sons, 
Silas and Timothy, together with Ger- 
shom, who are to take care of the father 
as he stands in need, with certain ex- 
ceptions in favor of their sister Mary. 

The will of this Doctor Gershom Brig- 
ham, dated July 16, 1810, "touching 
such worldly estate as God in his Prov 
idence has lent unto me" after gifts to 
his widow and other children, leaves to 
his son Josiah all real and personal 
estate. In a codicil to this, dated 
August 21, 1810, he gives to his sons, 
Benjamin and Joseph, a certain sum as 
compensation "for money & labour 
which they advanced for building a 
house which I consider their full share 
of said house." This may refer to the 
house on the West side of the road, op- 
posite the old house, which is reputed 



48 




The Gershom Brigham House. 

Built before 1743 Fisher Street opposite house of present owner, W. F. Nichols 



to have been built shortly before 1810. 

The estate was, on October 9. 1871, 
sold to Aznbah, the widow of Joseph, 
and through her executors, on Febru- 
ary 1, 1890, passed to Walter F. Nichols, 
the present owner. 

Thomas Brigham came to America 
in 16:^5. His son Thomas was born iu 
1641, and married Mary Rice. They 
bad three sons, Nathan, David and Ger- 
shom (the latter born in 1680, who was 
a doctor and surveyor) and a daughter 
Mary. This Gershom had a son Ger- 
shom born in 1712. who had a son Ger- 
shom born about 1746, who was a 
doctor. He had a son Josiah and twins, 
Joseph and Benjamin, born in 1780, who 
married Hannah and Lucy Hardy. 

The following entries in the diary of 
that man of God, Rev. Ebeuezer Park- 
man. A. M., regarding Dr. Gershom 
Brigham and family will be of interest 
here, the first being iu the very severe 
winter of 1779-80, under date of Dec. 27: 
"Called at Mr. Gershom Brigham's and 
began to take Thomab' Spy of him. 

Jan. 23, 1780. Elias goes on Racketts 
to Dr. Gershom Brigham's. A news- 
paper of Dec. 30 is ye Last. 

June 2. Dr. Gershom Brigham makes 
me a visit respecting ye Baptism of his 
new born twins. 

Aug. 3. Visit Mr. Gershom Brig- 
ham's wife, who languishes. 

Aug. 28. On Deac. Wood's Horse I 
rode to Mr. Gershom Brigham's to see 
his Wife, who is dangerously ill. The 
state of her Soul deplorable as well as 
her Body. She was very sorry yt she 
had neglected ye Lord's Supper. She 
was in much Confusion. I prayed with 
her and ye Family. I dined there. 

Aug. 31. Mr. Gershom Brigham 
brings his Wife's Earnest Desire yt I 
would visit her again & preach a Ser- 
mon there today. I complied — delivered 
a short Discourse (as I could) from sev- 



eral pasages in Isa. 55. 'Hear and your 
Soul shall live.' May God bless what 
was delivered Mrs. Br. is brot very 
low. 

Sept. 5. Mr. Gleason came and in- 
formed yt Mr. Gershom Brigham's 
Wife dyed this morning and ye Sur- 
vivors desire me to attend ye Funeral 
next Thursday. 

Sept. 7. I rode one of Alexander's 
Hoi-ses to ye Funeral of Mrs. Brigham 
(wife of Mr. Gershom) & prayed there." 



Thanks are due our worthy President, 
Rev. S. I. Briant, for the material pro- 
vided for this article and to Mrs. Esther 
M. Howell, who wrote the following 
tribute to the memory of Col. Josiah 
Brigham: 

Col. Josiah Brigham, a lifelong 
friend of my father, was purely a son 
of the soil— a typical New Englander- 
with traits of character which the 
present generation would do well to 
emulate. Sturdy in principle as well as 
physique; affable, genial, approachable 
by friends, but keenly discriminating 
between friends and so called friends. 
Quick to respond to a call for assistance 
from a worthy source, generous where 
generosity was a blessing to the recipi- 
ent, trustful even though it robbed him 
of valued friendship, honorable to a de- 
gree approaching the Master's ideal and 
the example He set for His following. 
Warm hearted, sympathetic, and allied 
with all that made for peace, harmony 
and good will — misunderstood, mis- 
judged and misplaced in bis local 
environment, he lived on in the shadows 
which enveloped him, in the full belief 
that at some future day, all would be 
made clear and the inharmonious har- 
monized to a sweet and tender sympho- 
ny—the bitternesses would be sweetened 
and all that marred the beauty of the 
life-canvass be eliminated, unfolding a 



49 



nevrer and fresher delineation of the old 
theme. With little penchant for public 
service, his honors in that line were 
few, spiritual to a degree little dreamed 
by his average acquaintance, hia com- 
munings with himself and God were 
frequent and prolonged, and could his 
heart have been lain open to the public 
gaze and perusal a most astounding 
revelation would have been the result, 
for he was far in advance of the think- 
ers and tenets of his time. 

And thus among his old compeers and 
associates, he passed the full quota of 
his years, read in many languages by as 
many people, yet wholly unread in the 
true vernacular, i. e , misunderstood to 
the last. None kveiv him save those 
few to whom his heart had pledged un- 
swerving allegiance and from whom 
he had received the same blessed assur- 
ance. He was but one of many so mis- 
judged, but for sake of truth and a de- 
sire for justice we gladly pen this simple 



tribute to one who was so endeared to 
our paternal ancestor," 



This house built more than 163 years 
agj and which has witnessed the com- 
ing and passing of so many generations 
with the dangers, hardships and priva- 
tions of the earlier years and the in- 
creased comforts and enjoyments of the 
later times, still stands in a good state 
of preservation. It has continued to be 
occupied until recently as a dwelling. 

The good old minister who preached 
as short a sermon as he could to lighten 
the path through the dark valley for 
the dying wife of Dr. Gershom Brig- 
ham at her home, was luid to rest in 
Memorial cemetery 124 years ago. but 
the house may stand for many years to 
come as one of the interesting land- 
marks of the olden time. 

A. Franklin Brown. 

September, 1906, 



The Haskell House. 



This house, one of the oldest in town, 
stands upon high ground in the east 
part of the town, on the old road to 
Boston, at the corner of East Main and 
Haskell streets. It is about two miles 
from the village. Like many other old 
houses, it had two large rooms on each 
floor with an entry between. There 
was a large chimney in the center with 
separate flues for each fireplace and a 
large fireplace in the kitchen back of 
the front rooms, with a small room at 
the end used as a bedroom or a milk 
room. There was a large brick oven. 



Also, a room back of the kitchen led 
into the shed. A few years since the 
old chimney was removed and many 
improvements made. 

As early as 1756, the site of the house 
"with all the natural property t'lereto 
belonging" was sold by Timothy Warrin 
to Thomas Chase. The latter may have 
built the house soon after this, for in 
1759 he sold the laud "with the dwelling 
house on same" to Benoni Chase of 
Sutton. Two years later John Beaton, 
blacksmith, bought it, and in 1764 sold 
it, with the house and also a blacksmith 



50 




TiiK H ASK i: I.I. llousi:. 
Bought in 1764. Corner of East Main and Haskell Streets. Owned by Mis. Fields 



shop on it, to Pbinehaa Haskell. The 
latter disposed of a half interest in the 
estate to his son Aaa in 1792, and it re- 
mained in his hands and those of his 
descendants till 1901 Additional acres 
were added to it from time to time. A 
plot of tlie land by Nahum Fisher in 
1842 included 37i acres. 

In 1902 it was owned bj' Mrs. Maria 
C. Chase, and in 1903 it pa.ssed to the 
present owner, Mrs. Grace M. Fields. 

In 1632 William Haskell, one of the 
three brothers who came from England, 
settled in Gloucester, Mass. He was 
the father of Joseph Haskell, whose son 
Ebeuezer was the father of Phinehas 

Phinehas Haskell was born in 1732. 
He married Susanna Burnam in 1761. 
About this time he came to West- 
borough and bought what is now called 
the Haskell place. He was a farmer 
and tilled the soil for a livelihood; also 
a blacksmith The shop stood between 
the bouse and where the schoolhouse 
now standa. He was puritanic in his 
principles. To do right and to h right 
was his great aim in life. He was a de- 
cided man and firm in what he consid- 
ered right «.nd just. So far as we can 
learn, he did not ofScially take part in 
the business of the town. He was a 
home man, looking after the interests 
of his family, and laboring to improve 
his land, setting out trees, etc. There 
has been very nice fruit on the place 
and berries, which the children enjoyed. 

He did not make a profession of re- 
ligion until he was 80 years old. About 
this time Rev. Jonathan Edwards passed 
through town and preached in Fram- 
ingham. Mr Haskell went to hear 
him. He became interested and openly 
professed his faith. He, with his 
grandson Elijah, aged 17, were baptised 
in a small stream of water near Dea. 
Beeman's house (since burned) on 
Flanders road. The Deacon prepared 



the upper part of his house for Baptist 
meetings. They also had frequent 
meetings at the Haskell house, before 
the first Baptist church was built. 

Mr. Haskell had a family of six child- 
ren, five sons and one daughter. Caleb, 
the oldest living child, was born in 1764. 
He studied medicine and in 1793 he was 
a practising physician in Hampton 
Falls He was never married. I have 
a letter from him written at that time, 
dated. "Hond Father, July 3d, 1793," 
and closes, "My love to Marm and 
brothers and sisters." (This was what 
moihers were called at that time). He 
died Aug. 17, 1817. aged 53. His daugh- 
ter Susanna married Mr. Seth Grout of 
North borough. Her daughters, Susan 
and Eliza, both married flolbrooks. 
Her oldest married Daniel Hoibrook, 
Some will remember Holbrook's store, 
at the corner of Main and South streets 
where Mr. Gates' store now stanis. 
The old building was removed. After 
Mr Holbrook's death Mrs. Hoibrook 
married Mr. Cyrus Gale, Sr., of North- 
borough. On leaving Westborough for 
her new home, she kindly donated her 
house on South street, the Bates' place, 
to the Baptist church for a parsonage. 
Eliza married Levi Hoibrook, whose 
son Levi is a business man in New York 
City. 

Mr. Haskell spent some of his last 
days in Northborough with his daugh- 
ter. He died suddenly at his old home 
in Westborough, aged 83 years, and 
was buried in the northwest part of 
Memorial cemetery. 

His son Phinehas Haskell, Jr., went 
to Maine about 1810. He had three 
daughters and one son. The two oldest 
daughters married Longfellows, broth- 
ers. They settled in Machias, Me. The 
youngest was a cripple. Some of our 
oldest residents may remember Lucy 
Haskell, who often visited Westbor, 



61 



ousch. stopped with Mrs. Holbrook and 
other relatives,— a good old lady, walk- 
ing on crutches His son Phinehas 
married and settled in Feltonville, now 
Hudson, where some of his descendants 
now live. 

His son Asa Haskell was born in 1765, 
was married to Lydia Wheelock, daugh- 
ter of Col. Moses Wheelock, colonel in 
the revolutionary war. He also died in 
this house, aged 63, and was buried in 
the Memorial cemetery. Any one walk- 
ing down Main street can read his epi- 
taph. It was said of him that after his 
return from the war he never com- 
plained of food or comforts, for he suf- 
fered much in the war. Those old vet- 
erans did not have the comforts and 
care that those who were in our late 
war enjoyed. The chair that he died 
in and the Rnife and fork that he car- 
ried with him through the war are still 
preserved. 

Mr. Asa Haskell married Lydia 
Wheelock in 1793 and brought her to 
his home. They were blessed with five 
children, two sons and three daughters. 
They all lived to a good old age: Lydia 
76. Clarinda 88, Elijah 90, Asa 91, Mary 
94. In 1803 the family were all sick 
with fever; his mother also, at North- 
borough. Mr. Haskell, caring for them 
all, took the fever and could not rally. 
He died a young man, 38 years old,— a 
sad loss to the wife and mother with 
five little children around her. 

Mr. Haskell was a good Christian 
man. He had a license to preach and 
was soon to be ordained. He often 
went to the surrounding towns to do 
good and improve his talent as the door 
opened. His word was to be depended 
upon; a very conscientious man. Per- 
haps some might say to a fault. One 
instance: A meeting was held at a 
Mrs. Clark's, who lived nearly three 
miles from his home, near where Mrs. 



Reuben Boynton now lives The house 
is not there today. On leaving, Mrs. 
Clark said to him. "Will you empty a 
pail of water, as you pass out?' It 
was a very cold night. Ho says, •'! 
will." It did not come to his iniud 
again until he had retired. He told his 
wife he must go and do it. She tried to 
persuade him not to go, but he said, "I 
must I promised to." He gor up and 
took another six mile walk in the cold. 
He could keep his word, and he did. In 
1796, May 21, he, with Mr James 
Hawes, Jr., my two grandfathers, were 
the first baptised by immersion in West 
borough, at Lake Chancey, or Chancey 
Pond, as it was called then. They 
united with the church in Sutton, be- 
fore a Baptist church was organized in 
town. 

But to return to the widow and the 
five fatherless children. She looked for 
divine help and obtained it. She was 
advised by friends to put her older 
children out, "bind them out," as it was 
called at that time, until they were 18 
or 21. But she said ''No," she should 
keep them together as long as she could. 
She kept cows, selling butter and cheese, 
and sheep, spinning and weaving the 
cloth to make the children's clothes. 
By hard work and economy she accom- 
plished it, still keeping her doors open 
to the traveling preachers to rest and 
hold meetings, inviting in her neigh- 
bors. She brought her childi'en up in 
the fear and admonition of the Lord, to 
work and do what they could, giving 
them what education she was able to, 
teaching them to love the Bible and to 
keep the Sabbath holy. One Sunday 
one of her little boys wandered down to 
the woods, not far from the house. 
{They were not allowed to go on Sun- 
day). Just as he came to the woods 
two large dogs came out upon him. He 
thought of the two bears his mother 



53 



bad read to him about in the Bil>]e. He 
wa.s much frightened, ran to the house, 
and never ventured out atcain on Sun- 
day. 

Years passed. Two young ministers 
came to the house, just commencing 
their life work. They saw the two eld- 
est daughters, just coming into woman- 
hood, in the bloom of youth and activi- 
ty, intelligent, for they had improved 
their privileges. Ihe mother was then 
willing to give her daughters away, as 
much as she loved them, to help those 
devoted men in gathering in sheaves for 
the Master. They soon took them to 
New York State, wiiich was then called 
"our, west," for it took them a week to 
go and a week to return; no public con- 
veyance as now. But they did not for- 
get Mother. They often visited the old 
home, and many interesting spiritual 
letters are still preserved. They wrote 
often, if postage was 18| cents a letter. 
I have a full sheet from one written 
just before her 94th birthday They 
lived to a good old age and proved to 
be excellent wives and mothers, help- 
pers in their husbands' work, both 
spiritual and temporal. Revivals fol- 
lowed wherever they went. All died in 
peace, feeling their life work was d< ne. 

One incident in the life of this 
grandmother. that we all loved 
so well, was her great disappoint- 
ment, as she called it In 1780. the 19th 
of May, the dark day rs it was called, 
her father. Col. Wheelock, lived at that 
time, a short distance above the Bart- 
lett place. They were going to have a 
nice dinner that she loved. It being so 
dark they did not prepare the dinner. 
Her father coming home at night from 
town could find his way only by holding 
on to the fence. She was so disappoint- 
ed that she always remembered it. She 
was then but nine years old. She died 
in 1855, aged 82 years. 



In 1822 Elijah Haskell was married to 
Mary L. Hawes, daughter of James 
Hawes. Jr. He also took his wife to his 
home. Two little girls here first saw 
the light of day; both now Hying, over 
80 years old; Mrs. Emily A. Child and 
the writer of this. Mr. Haskell lived in 
this house after marriage six years; 
then went to his wife's old home, the 
Hawes place Lydia. the youngest 
daughter, remained at home to care for 
mother, and was a great comfort to her. 

Asa Haskell, Jr.. the youngest child, 
born in 180a. lived at home until he was 
21, On hearing of the great excitement 
in the western states and that many 
families were moving from New Eng- 
land and New York toward that vast 
country, he caught the fever and de- 
sired to see for himself. In 1825, be 
wrote home a very interesting letter 
describing his travels, the country as it 
was at that time, etc. His letter was 
published in the Chronotype a few years 
ago. But he decided to return to the 
old home and cultivate New England 
soil. He married in 1836. Achsah War- 
ren, Dea. .\bner Warren's daughter. 
The house was repaired, two rooms be- 
ing added. It was painted and other 
improvements were made. A new bam 
was built later. He followed in the 
steps of his father and took his wife to 
the old homestead. Seven children 
were born to them, five sa ns and two 
daughters. Three sons enlisted in the 
army. One never returned. He was 
wounded in "Deep Run" battle Aug. 15. 
1864, and died in the hospital near 
Philadelphia, Aug, 29. Later his grave 
was found by a cousin and a small tree 
was planted there. Two sous married 
and left town. Many remember the 
sad time when the remaining three, 
Mary. Sarah and Fred, who lived so 
happily together, passed away so sud- 
denly to the great beyond, within two 



weeks, leaving the house without an oc- 
cupant. Their parents had died some 
years before. 

No one of the remaining family car- 
ing to live there, the house was sold and 
passed out of the Haskell name, having 
been in possession of the Haskell family 



nearly 140 years. There have bepn 20 
births and 13 deaths in this home, per- 
haps more. 

One of the seventh generation. 

Lydia Maria Brittan. 

October 31. 1906. 



The Gale Tavern. 



As early as Jan. 21. 1717, (the year 
when Westborough was incorporated) 
we find that Isaac Amsden. Sr., sold to 
his son Isaac, "30 acres of upland where 
the said Isaac Amsden's house now 
stands." This, we suppose, was the 
house before us. On Jan. 29, 1722, this 
Isaac Amsden, Jr., "in consideration of 
a fartherly Love & Will which I do 
Bear my Son Jacob Amsden," conveyed 
to the latter a tract of 60 acres, "all of 
which is one intire piece which has only 
a highway through same by the said 
Jacob Amsden's dwelling house." 

Other lands were added to the estate. 
16i acres in 1738 from Samuel Brigham, 
and 5i acres from Eleazar Beaman. 
These 22 acres Jacob Amsden sold in 
1749 to Isaac Amsden, a nephew, who 
then conveyed the same, with the 
"North East end of the dwelling house, 
that is to say, half the said house at the 
North East end of same and at the 
chimney," to Thaddeus Gale, black- 
smith, and Abijah Gale, yeoman. These 
two brothers had married Mr. Amsden's 
cousins, Lydia and Abigail, daughters 
of Jacob Amsden. 

In 1752 Thaddeus Gale sold his title to 
his brother Abijah, and in the follow- 



ing June, Jacob Amsden conveyed his 
rights to a piece of 20 rods, bounded 
"West through house in which said 
Jacob do now dwell to an apple tree & 
the West half of dwelling house with 
half of the cellar under the other half.'- 
In the partition of the estate of Jacob 
Amsden in 1766, among other lands, the 
lot with the house fell to the daughter. 
Abigail Gale. 

The house itself was probably built 
with the long sloping roof at the back 
side but it was virtually two stories in 
the main part having three back rooms 
and a room in the ell in the second 
story in addition to the two front 
rooms as they are now. There was a 
one story ell extending back with large 
kitchen and woodshed and carriage 
house, connecting with the barn beyond. 
The well, which is now some distance 
back from the house, was then under 
the kitchen, in which stood the pump, 
for drawing the water. 

The cellar would seem to have been 
limited to the east end or was used in 
common by the occupants of the house. 
Its center was taken up by the huge 
stone foundation of the chimney. There 
is at hand an interesting record of the 



54 




Built before 1749. 



The Gale Tavern. 
East Main Street near Walker Street Owned by Mrs Freeman 



division of the estate of Abijah Gale in 
1805 It is worth preserving lor its 
uniqueness as well as for its specifica- 
tiouH of the various parts of the house. 
"And h-a\'iug set off the East part of 
said dwellinj? house & cellar to said 
widow, v.'e reserve for their heirs, the 
privilege to use the milk cellar and the 
East end of the house in common with 
said widow & the front chamber stairs 
to be improved in common with said 
wiiow & said heirs & the fire place & 
ovens in kitchen to be used in common 
— also set to widow the privilege of 
passing ... to the cellar, chamber, 
& garret stairs, also to the cheese 
I'oom, dairy house «fe hot closet, also to 
pass to & from well at North part of 
house.— to lay her firewood in dooryard 
at South West part of house,— of pass- 
ing by front of cyder house to & from 
her barn,- also to hogpen at North East 
side of cyder house." 

Inside the hon.se. the old corner posts 
and ceiling beams still show plainly. As 
a tavern it was the center of many in- 
teresting gatherings, as well as the stop- 
ping place of travelers 

It is often referred to in Mr Park- 
man's Diary. One noteworthy incident 
was that of Sept. 2. 1774. "This morn- 
ing was ushered in with Alarms from 
every Quarter, to get ready & run down 
to Boston or Cambridge, the contents 
of the Magazine of Powder at Winter 
Hill had been carryd off. . . 72 of 
our Neighbors marched from Qile's ('tis 
said) by break of day; and others are 
continually going. My young man goes 
in armed with them. . , . It is a 
day of peculiar anxiety & Distress ! 
Such as we have not had" 

Though this proved to be a false 
alarm note that it occurred the fall be- 
fore the battle at Lexington. The old 
tavern was on other occasions the ren- 
dezvous of the militia. 



Mr. Parkmau often called there In 
April 1775. he "called at Mr. Gale's, 
partly to see old Mr. Gale and his wife, 
and to receive also a present of fine 
Carrotts. " 

References in the Diary show Mr. 
Gale was a leader in Church matters, 
and served on important committees. 
In Jan. 1789 he was appointed to assist 
in the ordination of Mr. Robinson as 
pastor— a notable occasion as there had 
been none such for 64 years. 

The following from the "Gale 
Records," written by George Gale, L. 
L. D., of Galesville, Wisconsin, has 
been handed us by Mrs. Cyrus Gale of 
Northborough, and will be of interest la 
this connection : 

"Abijah Gale of Westborough married 
June 23, 1748. Abigail Amsden cf 
Westborough, to which town he imme- 
diately removed from Weston, and 
lived in what was afterward called 
"The Gale Tavern " Abijah entered 
the service of his "King" in Jnne,l7o6.in 
the "French and Indian war" and served 
through the most of that war and was 
in some of the hardest battles In 1757 
he was in that part of the company not 
surrendered to the French at Fort Wil- 
liam Henry, and was marked as having, 
with 132 others in Col. Frye's regiment, 
deserted on the I2tli of August, three 
days aft^ r the surrender of the fort. As 
they were never j)unished for the de- 
sertion, but Abijah re-entered the ser- 
vice the following spring, it was pro- 
bably considered only as a "red tape" 
desertion, and really ju.stifiable. under 
the circumstances. 

The old iron soldier finally died June 
18th, 1804, in peace, amidst his numer- 
ous family, so unostentatiously that the 
town records do not even mention the 
time of his death. 

His first wife. Abigail, died Feb 27, 
1771, and he married Susannah Allen of 



55 



Weston, Nov. 14th of the same j'ear, 
who died Jau. 14th, 1831, aKed 91 years. 
She was a very smart woman, a tailor- 
ess, and went from house to house mak- 
ing clothes, and in her JlOth year cut 
and made a suit of woolen clothes for 
one of her neighbors. 

Mr Gale's will recites: 

Abijah Gale of Westborongh, Yeo- 
man, being advanced in age. &c. 

He dated his will April 16, 1804, and 
gave to his wife, Snsiinna. her dower of 
^ of the estate, & one cow, $40 in money, 
one looking glass, one case of drawers 
and "40 dining chairs she brought with 
her," meaning, probably, at their mar- 
riage 

2. Gives to his five sons, Nahum, 
Amsden, Lewis & Cyrus & David, all 
real & personal property except as 
follows: 

To "Nahum, 1 Pew & horse stable at 
Meeting house" &c. i use of them to 
widow during her life. 

To son, Elisha, |5, which, with what 
he had already given him, wa.^ his pro- 
portion. 

To son, Isaac, $35 same as Elisha. 

To diughter, Eunice, $100, half in 
furniture & balance in t^sh. 

To daughter, Susannah, $100, same as 
Eu nice. 

To Abijah Nichols, deceased, heirs at 
law, |7. 

To granddaughter Nancy, $50; prob- 
ably daughter of Abijah Gale. Jr. 

The will was proved and allowed 
Aug. 7, 1804, and Nahum appointed ex- 
ecutor. 

The inventory amounted to, real 
estate $6,166 and personal estate $933 19 
being of the total sum of $7,000. This 
amount, with what he had already 
settled on his oldest children, indicates 
that he was one of the most wealthy 
men in town. 

He was a hotel beeper, and kept a 



popular stopping place for judges and 
lawyers between Worcester and Boston; 
many anecdotes of which he used to tell 
in the latter part of his life. He was 
fond of jokes and tradition says that 
when his wife left one Sabbath for 
church, she instructed Abijah to "put 
the pot boiling for dinner," and sure 
enough he put the pot in a five pai! 
kettle, filled the kettle with water and 
had the pot boiling in good earnest 
when the good wife returned. 

Being a good business man. he was 
eontinnally pressed with town offices. 
hence wf find him constable in 1764; on 
the cointiiit'ee to hire a schoolmaster in 
1768; surveyor of boards and shinnies, 
and on a committee to put in four new 
pews in the church, in 1769; surveyor 
of highways in 1770; one of a commit- 
tee of seven, in 1773, "to take into con- 
sideration ye rights as stated by the 
committee of Correspondence of ye town 
of Boston, & of ye infringements & vio 
lations of ye same." After naming the 
grievances of the Colonies, this com- 
mittee say: "l\ appears that every 
member of this Committee, qualified to 
act in town affairs, should at all times 
have a proper sense of them, more 
especially as ye Future happiness of his 
Family, as well as himself, depends 
greatly on their being Removed. For 
no Dought ware tyranny is exercised, 
opposition becomes a Duty. As our 
fathers could, so can we plead our Loy- 
alty, we have been and now are reads' 
to spill our dearest blood in the defence 
of our King. Religion & Constitutional 
Laws. We cannot but look upon it as 
a hard trial, yea, greater than we can 
bear, if we cannot be said to give full 
proof of our Loyally, otherwise than by 
sacrificing those Rights and Liberties, 
which we prize beyond life itself," 

In the same year he was chairman of 
a committee to .sell "Pue Spots" around 



66 



the church In 177;"), he was one of a 
coitiaiittee of "In8[;ection & Observa- 
tion" recommended by the Continental 
Cons^ress. In 1777, he was chairman of 
a committee "to make a remonstrance 
to the Genera] Court, concerninsj the 
s.ale money being put on loan. &c." In 
1778. be was chairman of a committee 
to consult together on the plan of (jrov- 
ernment sent out bv Contjress. He re- 
l orted that: "We are of the opinion 
that the Pn)testaut Religion is not duly 
unarded in said Constitution. Also, we 
think it might be well to acknowledge 
the Superintendence of Heaven in the 
Stile: by adding these words: (under 
God) after the words shall be. which 
remark we humbly submit to the town 
for acceptau<-e." 

The same year he was chairman of a 
committee "to give instruction to our 
Representative concerning ye Constitu- 
tion;" and on another committee "to 
settle with those who had been in the 
military service of the United States;" 
and also moderator of the town meet- 
ing. In 1779. he was chairman of the 
selectmen, and the same the following 
year { an important office in those 
days.) 

Seventeen children were born to him, 
six b}' his first wife, eleven by the 
sec3nd. Several of them Jived to a ripe 
old age. Capt. Cyrus Gale of Nortli- 
borough was 94 years, 11 mouths, when 
he died." 

It is of interest to note this last 
named son, started forth from the old 
homestead in 1800. when but 15 years of 
age, with but $2 in pocket to seek his 
fortune, especially eager to earn money 
that he might contribute it toward the 
support of the family He walked to 
Boston and applied at the old market 
for work. He went to live with one 
Isaac Davis at Roxbury and proved 
himself one of the most capable of lads. 



After a few years he was able to carry 
on the business for himself. 

"He was a provision dealer and 
wholesale and retail grocery merchant 
in Boston," writes one, "and during the 
war of 1812 captain of a company of 
militia in the city In subsequent life 
Capt Gale has been postmaster, select- 
man and for 50 years justice of the 
peace. He has also been two terms a 
member of the Legislature and one 
term a member of the Governor's 
Council." 

He was the father of the present 
Cyrus Gale, whose public spirited gifts 
of "The Gale Library." and of the Park 
and adjacent real estate on Mt. Assabot 
to his native town, have continued to 
honor the family name. 

From the heirs of Abijah Gale the 
estate passed through various hands to 
Luther Chamberlain between 182^ and 
1831. He sold, in June IH of the latter 
year, the part on which stood the house 
to Pierpout Brigham 

In 1836, the will of the lattf^r. ap- 
proved Nov. 7, gave to Widow Annah 
the income of the new farm of 75 acres 
and to the sons in law Charles Brigham, 
Jr , and Dexter Brigham, with their 
wives, "All money from the sales of the 
old farm"— which was on the east side 
of the highway — also to the Annah E. 
and Martha W., "the income of all pro- 
perty given my wife alter she ceased to 
be my widow &c— their children to 
have the principle of said estate." 

It was in 1862. that the barn was 
burned and the very next year, the barn 
and the ell and back part of the house 
were destroyed by fire. This necessitat- 
ed the rebuilding of the roof and other 
parts, and in the process, the old garret 
and the back rooms in the second story 
were omitted 

In Feb. and Mar. 1863. the titU- of the 
estate including the so called "Gale 



67 



Place" passed to Dexter Brigham 2nd, 
from the various parties iutexested. 

Later the same year the last named 
as guardian of Dexter P.. Albert B and 
Ella C Brigham, then minors, sold it to 
Cliarles M. Buck, who in 1864 sold the 
•Gale Place" to Dennis Fitzpatrick 



The latter held it tor over 20 years, and 
in 18'J5 sold it to J. J Ryan, who con- 
veyed it in 1903 to Jennie W. Nichols, 
the present owner, now Mrs. Otis A. 
Freeman. 

S. INGERSOL.L. BRIANT. 

November 1906. 



The Thomas Whitney House. 



On a little knoll in the southwesterly 
section of Westborough. on the North 
(irafton road and near the Grafton 
boundary, stands an old, weatherbeateu 
atructui'e. grim, silent and alone. A 
narrow lane partially lined with lilacs 
leads from the highway to it. That the 
oest of material and workmanship en- 
tered into its construction, that the 
hand of time has passed very gently 
over it. and that the elements have 
been especially kind, are evidenced by 
its state of preservation today, where the 
vandal's hand has not mutilated it. It is 
a monument to departed days and stands 
out upon the landscape as a historic pic- 
ture of alternating lights and shades 
framed in the faraway past; the ell and 
shed antedating the revolution by con- 
siderably more than a quarter of a cen- 
tury. Guarded by majestic trees of 
ash, it seems a garrison from which the 
troops have been transferred, while the 
sentries still pace their beat. All over 
it, is written in legible characters, 
"Passing away," and over its front en- 
trance we read in illuminated colors, 
the word "Veneration." for we vener- 
ate the old liouse for sake of him who 
placed it there, for them that have gone 



in and out of its portals, leaving the 
impress of their hurrying feet upon its 
thresholds and for the days of dear de- 
light we have passed within its walls. 
Who erected the deserted house, in 
what year it was built, and what of 
them that have owned and occupied it 
are pertinent questionings and the best 
answer we are able to give we now 
offer. 

We open the book of Time at page 
17S5 A. D., and among the records en- 
tered thereon find this: — 'To all people 
to whom these presents shall come, 
greeting; know that I, Joseph Grout of 
the town of Wtstboro, county of Wor- 
cester in his majesty's province of Mass- 
achusetts Bay in New England, hus- 
bandman, for and in consideration of 
the sum of two hundred and 6fty 
pounds in good current and lawful 
money of this province, to me in hand, 
well and truly, paid before the ensealing 
hereof by Thomas Whitney of ye town 
of Watertown in ye county of Middle- 
sex in ye province of Massachusetts bay 
in New England before mentioned, hus- 
bandman, the receipt thereof I do here- 
by acknowledge and myself to be fully 
satisfied iierewith as paid and content* 



58 




The Thomas Whitney House. 
Occupied in 1762. Nourse Street near Jasper Street. Owned by J. W. Fay 



ed, for every part and parcel thereof 
and do liereby exonerate, ac^quit and 
discharge hiiu the said Thomas "Whit- 
uey, hia heirs, executors, adiuinistratovs, 
and assigns forever by these presents 
have given, granted, bargained, sold, 
aliened conveyed and conformed, and by 
these presents do fully, freely and clear- 
ly and absolutely give, grant, bargain, 
sell, aliene, convey and confirm unto 
him the said Thomas Whitney, his 
heirs, executors, etc., a certain tract of 
land, containing seventy acres, be ye 
same more or less, with a dwelling 
house thereon. 

The said land is situated, lying and 
being in the southeasterly part of ye 
town of Shrewsbury, county of Worces- 
ter, province of Mass. bay in New 
England and is bounded as follows: 
Betcinring at the southeast corner with a 
crooked blacli oak tree marked, from 
thence running westerly partly by the 
laud belonging to ye heirs of John Fay, 
Jr., late of Westboro, deceased, and 
partly by land formerly of Capt. Na- 
than Brigham of Marlboro' bv marked 
trees till it comes to a red oak tree 
marked, at ye southwest corner, then 
turning northerly and running by ye 
land of Ebenezer Nurse to a pine tree 
marked, thence running to a stake and 
heap of stones at the northwest corner, 
then turning easterly by ye said Nurse 
his land, to a uiaple tree marked, thence 
turning to a stake and heap of stones, 
thence running to a great white oak 
tree marked, thence running to stake 
and heap of stones at the northeast 
corner, then turning southerly and 
running by ye land of Eleazer Pratt 
and from thence running to a chestnut 
tree staked and from thence running to 
the black oak tree first mentioned. To 
have and to hold the same premises 
with the dwelling house thereon and 
all that is whatsoever now standing. 



lying or growing therein and thereon 
Whereunto I, Joseph Grout and Mary 
Grout, wife of said Joseph, by her mark, 
have set our hands and seals this ninth 
day of April in ye year one thousand 
seven hundred and thirty five, in ye 
eight year of ye reign of our Sovereign 
Lord, George second, of Great Brittain. 
France and Ireland— King .Defender of 
faith, etc. Signed, sealed and delivered 
in presence of Isaiah Gcodnovk'.Ebenezer 
Parkraan. Francis Harrington. Nahum 
Ward. The tract of this conveyance, 
was in the "Shrewsbury Shoe," so 
called, and the house was a small, one 
story frame dwelling 26 ft. bv 28 ft , 
facing the south, with a shed 13 ft. by 
31 ft., attached, in which a small rtom 
was finished. In this room were two 
windows and a door. On the south 
side of the house were two rooms, 
kitchen and bedroom. Back of these 
or facing the highway, were the 
"best" room, pantry and "set kettle" 
room, which was later divided into two 
small rooms. From the kitchen, 
stairways led to the open chamber, 
through which one passed to the tiny 
furnished chamber over the set kettle 
room and to the cellar. The kitchen 
and "best" room were equipped with 
fireplaces, and the huge chimney of 
that day, occupied quite a part of the 
floor space. 

There are good reasons for belief that 
rhe erection of the house was about 
1730. Mr. Thomas Whitney, the pur- 
chaser, was the third generation from 
John Whitney born in England, 1589, 
who settled in Watertown, 1635, and 
died there June 1, 1673. Mr. Thomaa 
Whitney was born 1695 in Watertown 
and baptized in the Second church of that 
place Jan 28, 1699, by Rev. Mr. Angier. 
He was a farmer and had learned the 
wheelwright business from his father, 
Mr. Eleazer Whitney. At the acquisi- 



tion of his new property he was the 
father of six children, four boys and 
two girls; the elde3t, Eleazer, born Nov. 
30. 1720. the youngest, Susannah, born 
May 17, 1729. 

Of this Mr. Thomas Whitney, our 
great, great grandsire, our knowledge 
is very limited. That he was an ener- 
getic, ambitious man, jovial and blunt, 
we have been assured. That he delved 
out a living among the rocks of his 
mowings and fields is certain. That he 
was a strict disciplinarian has come 
down through the generations. He 
died May 8, 1748, aged 53 years. 

Of his estate we find the following 
division, May 27, 1748. approved by 
court Aug. 10, 1748: "Twenty acres in 
Shrewsbury, * * * * has a small 
dwelling house thereon and some 
orchard thereon which said land with 
the house and improvements thereon 
we have allowed and appraised at one 
hundred pounds. We have set out to 
Hannah, the widdow. 4 acres with the 
dwelling house and some orchard. The 
said 4 acres are in the East side of the 
aforesaid 20 acres, appraised at £33,6s.4d. 

The remaining 16 acres valued at 
£66, 13s, 4d, (not being capable of de- 
viding too & amongst the heirs without 
spiling the same) we have set it off to 
Thomas, the second son, (the eldest son 
having refused to have it set off to him) 
and have ordered the said Thomas to 
pay out of the said estate the folbwing: 
To his brother Eleazer, the oldest son, 
£22, 48. 5d; to Nathan, the youngest, 
£11, 2s, 2d, 2f ; to sister Hannah, mar- 
ried to Ebenezer Sanders, £11, 2s, 2d, 
2f, and to his youngest sister, Susannah, 
£11. 28, 3d. 2f." 

Fifteen acres of the purchase Mr. 
Thomas Whitney, senior, had conveyed 
by deed to his son Thomas, July 9, 1747, 
and thirty acres to Mr. Benjamin Fay 
Nov. 3, 1747. 



Of Mrs. Hannah Smith Whi*^uey, 
whom he married July 1, 1720, we know 
she was one of New England's colonial 
dames, who were proverbial for im- 
maculateness, proficiency in the culinary 
art and devotion to their families and 
home interests. She was not a club 
woman, The time of her death is un- 
known, as is the resting place of both 
herself and her husband, but as some of 
their descendants slt^ep in the old ceme- 
tery at Soutn Shrewsbury it is probable 
that among the graves whose head- 
stones have fallen and become indeciph- 
erable, are theirs. 

Of the children, Eleazer, the eldest, 
died at 18. Hannah married Ebenezer 
Sanders. Thomas, our great grand- 
sire, born Sept. 3 1732. married Anna 
Gould Feb. 24, 1753. and took her to the 
old house as a brida He was a frugal 
temperate man, banishing from his 
board, save on extra occasions, all forms 
of intoxicants. Tobacco was his abhor- 
rence and he refused to sit b}' the side 
of a user of it at any time or place. 
Like his father, he was a good farmer 
and being of an inquiring tarn of mind, 
his time and attention were somewhat 
divided between the improvement of 
his acres and bee culture, his one hive 
giving ample opportunity for study of 
the habits and haunts of the bee, while 
rearing the cellular house and storing 
therein the winter's food At swarm- 
ing, however, the bees decided to make 
their new home in the spacious chimney 
and to call them from their retreat, as 
a last resort, a bundle of straw was 
lighted on the hearth. This unlocked 
for result of his labors robbed Mr. 
Whitney of all desire for further ex. 
perience with bees, 

When the news of Paul Revere's mid- 
night ride and the message he bore, 
reached his ears, his patriotism was 
aroused and at a date unknown he was 



enrolled as a private in Capt. John 
Miiyiiard's company of staunch Shrews- 
burians, under Col. Job Gushing, sun of 
the pastor of the Con2Tef<ational church 
of that town from 1738 to 1760. Of his 
service we find this entry: 'The com- 
pany marched to Hadley by order of 
Col. Denny on an alarm at Bennin{?ton. 
They marched GO miles in three days." 
He was honorably discharged Aug. 23, 
1777 

That he had a tenacious love for old 
friends and places is evid^^nced in his 
declination to be annexed to West- 
borough, although the annexation of 
1762 left him and his little 40 acres as 
an island, completely surrounded by 
Westborough, His desire was to die as 
he had lived, — a citizen of Shrewsbury. 
He united with the Congregational 
church of that town in 1784 That our 
great grandmother also united with 
that church is a matter of fact. May 
11. 1807, she united by letter with the 
church in Westborough. 

Like her immaculate mother-in-law 
she was a wondrous housekeeper. Two 
nights a week, when the moon was at 
its full, both she and our great grand- 
sire sat up all night, she spinning and 
weaving, he shelling corn on a shovel 
and such other work as the season 
might invite. Fortunately they were 
not in an apartment house. Truly, 
they were an industrious, thrifty, hardy 
race. 

Mr. Whitney died April 35, 1806, aged 
84 years. His wife died August 10, 1812, 
and both are presumably buried in the 
old cemetery at South Shrewsbury. 

Of their six children, Timothy, bom 
Nov 29. 1763, was, like his father, 
patriotic and enlisted in Capt. Joseph 
Warren's company, leaving wife and 
three months old son, in Sept , 1777, one 
month after his father's discharge, and 
was commissioned lieutenant. His 



name stands on the honor roll hung on 
the wall of the Shrewsbury public 
library. He married Miss Phebe Reed 
and there we lose trace of him. 

Sarah, born Nov. 21, 1756, married 
Jonas Hemenway of Shrewsbury Feb. 
28, 1790. and died Sept. 8, 1827. aged 71. 

Anna, born May 24, 1764, married 
Silas Wheeluck, also of Shrewsbury, on 
her 19th birthday, and died Feb. 23, 
1842, aged 78. 

John Smith Whitney, born Dec. 4, 
1768, married Susanna Knowlton, sister 
of Judge Knowlton, one of Massachu- 
setts' earliest leaders of the bar, Feb. 
24. 1794. and died in the west. He was 
the father of Joseph Hastings Whitney, 
late resident of this town 

Jonah, younge.st of the family, bom 
Aug. 25, 1771. died Oct. 3, 1810. aged 39, 
being killed while moving a building. 

Elijah, our grandsire, born April 21, 
1761, married Miss Mindwell Hardy, a 
cousin of the father of Mr. William F. 
and the late Susan M. Hardy, May 29_ 
1785. We quote from the Whitney 
genealogy: "Elijah Whitney was a 
handsome man and an excellent farmer 
and his father, Thomas, seems to have 
relied mainly tipon him in business 
matters. When 'the Shoe,' in 1762, was 
annexed to Westboro Thomas, the 
father, desired to remain a citizen of 
Shrewsbury, and his request was 
granted; he. however, yielded to Elijah's 
request March 12, 1793, and the farm, 
which had become Elijah's property, 
was annexed to Westboro." In reality. 
Elijah rebelled against longer travelling 
on rackets unnecessary miles over im- 
passable roads to attend religious ser- 
vices or municipal gatherings. That 
he was a church-going man is inferen- 
tial by his purchase, April 8, 1799, from 
Mr. Eli Whitney of "A certain Pew 
in the publick Meeting House in Said 
Westborough, and is Situate, Standing 



61 



and being between Joseph Harrington's 
pew & Simeon Bellows Pew, and is on 
the South side, or front of said Meeting 
house and is a wall Pew so called Under 
the Galleries." This deed was acknow- 
ledged before Elijah Brighani, Ju3. 
Pacis, and witnessed by Moses Whee- 
lock and Nathaniel Andrews. "He was 
kind to his children and allowed his son, 
Elijah, to leave his trade and pursue a 
course at college and gradaate as a 
learned man. His comparatively early 
death was a sad blow to his sous who 
were just passing into manhood. He 
was frugal and careful in his life and 
left a f^ir amount of real estate to be 
divided between his children." 

To the genealogical record we add the 
testimony of one of his contemporaries, 
Mr. Moses Grout: "He possessed great 
^ecutive ability and was persistently 
sought for town offices, all of which he 
declined, giving his time and undivided 
attention to the rearing of his large 
family and farm work. His fields of 
corn were his pride and many of his 
townsmen depended upon him for their 
spring planting." 

Of him, also, we are told that the 
hours of two nights a week, at the full 
moon, were utilized in the advancement 
of such interests as seemed to demand 
immediate attention, and his wife with 
her busy fingers kept him company, 
which disposes of any question that 
might arise concerning his membership 
in any "union," save the felicitous 
domestic one, and proves her a scion of 
a "Hardy" race at least. Fortunately 
that over-plus of energy was not be- 
queathed to later generations. Her 
bridal outfit, apparel, table and bed 
linen were the work of her own hands. 
Her feather bed, pillows and bolster 
were her own handiwork, from the 
plucking of the geese to the last stitch 
therein; (the furnishings, not the geese.) 



Specimens of her spinning, weaving 
and emboidery are still in existence. 

One brive feat of hers has come to 
us. Soon after her widowhood two 
cows became quari-elsome and in their 
combat fell with horns interlocked. la 
the struggle for separation one was 
thrown on her back with the long slen- 
der horns deep set in the sward. Real- 
izing her peril, the brave woman of 
petite figure, seized the head and re- 
leased the frantic animal. 

The executive ability of this Daughter 
of the Revolution and French and In- 
dian war as well, was marvelous and 
shown in the rearing of her 11 children, 
especially after her widowhood, at 
which time the youngest was but seven 
yeai's old I quote the late Mrs Theodore 
F. Brigham: "Her cooking was par ex- 
cellence and none could rival her in the 
housewifely art. It was a genuine de- 
light to visit there, as none need fear to 
wear their best." 

The trees which stand as sentries, 
guarding the old house of so many 
cherished memories, were planted by 
her hands, while still a bride, and have 
withstood the shocks and storms of 120 
years. She was received into the Con- 
gregational church May 24, 1818. 

The exact date of the erection of the 
main part of the homestead we regret 
our inability to determine. There is a 
difference of opinion concerning it, its 
erection being accredited to both Mr. 
Thomas Whitney and Mr, Elijah Whit- 
ney. We give all that has come to us. 
In a letter from the late Susan M. 
Hardy we find "that Mr. Thomas Whit- 
ney's children and Mr. Elijah Whitney's 
children, born previous to 1793, were 
born in Shrewsbury, while those born 
after that date were born in West- 
borough, and yet they were all born in 
the same house " From another dis- 
tant relative we have the corroboration 



of this affirmation, and Knowing Miss 
Hardy's pnnctilliousuess in all matters, 
we had assumed 'the same house" re- 
ferred to the structure of today, no dis- 
crimination being made. From our 
father and his youngest sister we 
learned of the housevvarming, with the 
name of one person of lisping tongue 
and eccentricity of speech, who was 
present. Reference to the church man- 
ual reveals the fact that a person of 
that name was received into member- 
ship in 1749 A relative, o'.ir senior, 
has given the opinion that it was built 
by Mr. Elijah Whitney. 

During the past summer the house 
has been twice inspected by master- 
builders, the specialty of one being the 
taking down and repairing of old build- 
ings. His judgment was that it was 
built not later than 1765. The other 
gave us his opinion that about 50 years 
elapsed between the building of the two 
structures, whif^h, granting the old 
dwelling to have been erected in 1780, 
would give a date of 1780 for the addi- 
tion, at which time Mr Elijah Whitney 
was but nineteen years of age. If Mr_ 
Thomas Whitney was the builder, it 
was in the later years of his ownership, 
and if Mr. Elijah Whitney, in the early 
days of his possession. We accordintrly 
give the date as between 1765 and 1785, 
the advantage of building permits being 
clearl}' demonstrated. 

From our father we learn that it was 
built by one Asa Munroe, 

But whence he came to earn his fame 
We're sure we cannot tell. 
This we do know, that time doth show 
He did his work right well. 

At the "raising", Mr. Whitney's neigh- 
bors and friends were present, to assist 
in placing the massive frame in position, 
and when it was upright, bread and 
butter, cheese and flip were served. 
The "minister" also was present and 



invoked a divine blessing on the in- 
mates of the old house, tho^e whe 
should come after them, the labortrs 
and the permanency of the new struc- 
ture. That the long prayer has been 
answered in o e particular the deserted 
house bears daily evideuce. 

Its exterior is after the manner of 
construction of that day, its hand-made 
window frames being a solid piece of 
timber. It is a two story structure, 
with one room on each side of the front 
door, which opens io a small entry. The 
"southroom " has three windows, two on 
the west or front, one facing south, and 
two doors, one opening on the yaid. the 
other to a narrow hall leading to the 
kitchen. The walls are wainscotted. 
In one corner is the brick oven, evi- 
dencing it was designed for the living 
loom. The 'north room" has five 
windows, two west, two north and one 
east. The dentilated frieze bespeaks 
the ' best room." Over these rooms are 
the chambers, the north chamber being 
divided into halves making two rooms 
over the one below. Four of these 
rooms have fireplaces; closets and cup- 
boards of various sizes are in all the 
rooms. In the center stands the chim- 
ney of that day. After the addition 
was built, the "best room ' of the dwel- 
ing, became the "middle room," with 
its highboy, and in winter the high 
posted mahogany bedstead, and the 
bedroom was divided into two pantries. 
It is a solid structure, severe in outline, 
and designed to weather the storms of 
centuries And that it will fulfil the 
intent of its builder seems a foregone 
conclusion. And as we wander through 
the deserted rooms, comes the thought, 
what of them who have called the house 
home? 

Mr. Elijah Whitney died there Aug. 
24, 1817, aeed 56 years. By his will 
dated Sept. 28. 1812, be left tLe home 



63 



farm to his vife while she remained 
his widow. Mrs. Whitney died April 
28. 1853. a^ed 89^ years. Both sleep in 
Midland cemetery. 

Of the eleven childi-en; Azubah, born 
Oct 18, 1785, manned Joel Adams of 
Northbrid^e and was buried there. She 
died Jnne 29, 1835, a^ed 49 years. Na- 
hnm born Jan. 7, 1788, married Susan- 
na, sister of Joel Adams, and died Dec. 
22. 1843, aged 55, and was laid in Mid- 
land. Asenath, born March 12. 1790, 
married Noyes Bryant, father of the 
late Alfred Bryant and sleeps in Mid- 
land. Joel, bom May 12, 1792, married 
Ebial Nason, and his resting place is 
unknown David, the father of Mrs. 
Ja-per Fay, born June 9, 1795, was the 
eldest one within our memory. He was 
a whole-souled, genial gentleman, a 
farmer, and his fields and meadows at- 
tested his ability, industry and thrift. 
He married Miss Samaria Wheeler, and 
with her spent his later years in Graf- 
ton where he died Dec. 12, 1861, 
aged 66i years. Mrs. Whitney died 
May 19, 1892 aged 90i years. Both 
lie in Midland. Levi saw scarcely two 
months of life and was laid in the fami- 
ly lot. 

EHjah. the central star of the human 
constellation and the only one who rose 
to prominence, was born Nov. 26, 1798. 
He was of fine physique, standing ^iix 
feet three and well proportioned. Be- 
ing of a studious nature he took a 
course in Brown University, then at 
Yale and later at Union college, gradu- 
ating in 18'>2 Immediately he opened 
an academy at Stockbridge, Mass., from 
which he giaduated Cyrus W. Field. 
Later he studied and taught in Lane 
Seminary, Cincinnati, with Dr. Ly- 
man Beecher and was ordained to the 
gospel ministry at Chenango, N Y., in 
1837. For seventeen years he was en- 
gaged in pastoral work, when losing his 



voice, hfe studied medicine at Syracuse 
medical college and in 1852 removed to 
New York citj', which he made his per- 
manent home and became a regular prac- 
titioner, continuing in active practice 
till his ninetieth year. He was twice 
married, to Miss Cornelia L. Pratt and 
later to Wealthy Bryant. Among his 
closer friends he numbered Webster, 
Clay, Calhoun, Henry Ward Beecher 
and many others of note. Among his 
literary productions was a treatise on 
yellow fever, and a book on Asiatic 
cholera. He was a wide lecturer on tem- 
perance and moral reform, and delivered 
a lecture in Grand Union hall in his 
eighty-fifth year, and again manifested 
bis vigor, both mental and physical, by 
an address in the Academy of Anthro- 
pology on his ninetieth anniversary. 
During the civil war he was a surgeon 
under Col. Hunter. One incident of 
his boyhood we give in his own lan- 
guage: "From the crane in the old fire- 
place, was suspended a huge iron pot 
and I was curious tj know moie con- 
cerning its contents. My curiosity led 
me to lean over the pot for a deep in- 
halation of the strong odor, and leaning 
too far, the pot tipped toward me, and 
the soup apparently went through me, 
as the smarting was about equal on 
both sides. The trapdoor of my cloth- 
ing had suddenly swung on its hinges 
and there appeared to be a plentitude 
of shingles flying in mid-air." He was 
a member of Madison Square Presby- 
tarian church, and died Apr. 7. 1892, 
aged 93^ years He was buried from 
Union Tabernacle and sleeps in Wood- 
lawn. 

Mindwell Clarinda, eighth child, mar- 
ried James Searl. uncle of Mr. Uriah 
Searles.and took him to the old house as 
a bridegroom Under her superintend- 
ence the former standard of excellence 
in all departments was maintained. 



64 



Our memories of the house are with 
her as its mistress. She was admitted 
to the church Dec. 8, 18-:L\ ;.ud died 
in North Grafton, Nov. 25, 1877, aged 
76i years. Both she aud lier husband 
sleep in Midland. 

Orestes died at the age of 2?, and lies 
in the fauiilj' lot^ 

Dexter O.sborne, youngest of the fam- 
ily, boiu Sept. 17, 18')1), was ihe wit of 
the family, seeing ail things in their 
most ludicrous light and taking a more 
philosophical view of adversity and 
perversity than was usual with the 
Whitneys. He was by occupation a 
mechanic. He married Catiierine New- 
ton and later Mrs. Laviuia Kauuse. He 
died Nov. 8, 1875. aged 66 years, in 
Web.ster, where he was buried. 

Mr. Daniel Whitney, tenth of the 
eleven children, was the oue we knew 
best. For thirty-thrte years we called 
him father. Five feet eleven in heigur, 
straight as an arrow, honorable in the 
strictest sense of the term, temperate, 
genial, yet dignified in manner to a 
fault. He was a farmer and his hobby 
was fine stock, aiid finer animals than 
were stalled in his barn it would be 
difficult to find outside the thorough- 
bred. His barn was swept twice daily 
and no lantern was needed to locate any 
part of his farm paraphernalia. His 
judgment in the purchase and exchange 
of animals was widely sought and rare- 
ly proved erroneous. The stone walla 
that bounded his acres were his pride, 
laid by hia own hands. 

On Sept. 2, 1824, he saw Lafayette at 
Worcester, as he was on his way from 
Boston to New York. 

At the age of twenty he was commis- 
sioned cornet in a Regiment of Caval- 
ry, 2d Brigade. Sixth Division, Aug. 20, 
1827. He was honorably discharged 
July ?, 1828. His inherent priJe was 
evidenced, when in carrying the stand- 



ard on the muster field, he desired the 
finest mount to be found and locating a 
handsome black stallion at Taunton, 
drove over in a chaise, paid five dollars 
per day for use of the animal and rode 
him home. He was the cynosure of all 
eyes in more ways than one. The horse 
was unac<;u8tomed to martial music 
and, being a mettled steed, the rider 
circled the field at a pace and in a man- 
ner widely at variance with his usual 
dignity and not at all in accord with the 
requirements of the occasion. He. how- 
ever, reached the head of the line in 
ample time to lead in the evolutions. 
It was his first and last horse race! 

Among the friends he held in lifelong 
remembrance were Col. Josiah Brigham, 
Major Gleasou. Harrison O. Fay. John 
A. Fayerweather, Dean Fisher, Joel 
Andrews aud Jonas Longley, and we 
might add Miss Beulah Peters and Miss 
Salome White. 

April 11, 1830. he united with the 
Congregational church, and in 1848 re- 
moved tu Grafton, with the full intent 
of ret iniiiig to his native place for his 
decliunig 3-e})rs In this he was disap- 
pointed and died in Grafton April 27, 
1881, agpd 74, and .9lpe(»« in Midland 
with his two wives, Miss Nancv B. 
Newton of Westboro and Miss Sarah S. 
Fisk of Shelburne, ojie of the pupils of 
Miss Lyon at Mt. Holyoke. 

The last Vjirth in this house was Ada- 
line A Whitney April 20. 1810, daugh- 
ter of Nahuiu Whitney, and fourth 
generation from the first Mr. Thomas 
Whitney. 

The last Whitney occupant was Mrs. 
Mindwell Searl, who transferred the 
property to Mr. John B. Adams, son of 
her elder sister, April 28. 18(56. although 
she remained there rill the following 
year. April 16. 1867, Mr. Adams deeded 
the farm to Mr Jasper Fay. and July 
23, 1879, Mr. Fay transferred it back to 



65 



Mv. Adams of Springfield.tbelas^t change 
the Registry of Deeds records. 

During the years last meutioned, the 
original windows, with their 7x9 panes 
were replaced by more modern four- 
lighted ones, giving it somewhat the 
appearance of a colonial dame who has 
outlived her time and being more am- 
bitious than discreet, has aped the at- 
tire of a later generation in the adop- 
tion of rimless eye glasses. And with 
fragrant memories of the past, we quiet- 
ly close the door of the deserted house 
and leave it to the leveling hand of 
Time, 



And for those guardians of our Past, 

Waifs on time's human ocean cast, 

Descendants of an alien soil, 

Inured to hardship and to toil. 

We claim but this : They came and wenl , 

Each on one common purpose bent, 

Tc do the very best they knew. 

To every trust to prove them true. 

The sacrificial flame to feed. 

To help a brother if he need, 

The Lord to honor, love, revere. 

And trace a record bright and clear. 

And if they missed the mark in aught. 

Who of himself, can say it not? 

And thus they wrought beyond their ken, 

In life and death, God's noblemen. 

Esther M. Howell. 
Worcester, Dec. 12, 1906. 



66 



INDKX 



Adams, Joel, 64. 

John B., 66. 
Susanna, 64. 
Allen, Susanna, 56. 
Aiues. Levi. 25. 
Aiusden, Abigail, 54, 55. 
I.saac, 54. 
Jacob, 54. 
L.ydia, 54. 
Andrews, Joel, 65. 

Nathaniel, 62. 
Rhoda, 17. 
Thomas. 45. 
Thos. Elliot, 45. 
Arnold, Capt. Benedict. 37. 
Bailey, Mrs. Elizabeth S., 45. 
Samnel K., 45. 
Mrs. Samuel R , 45. 
Baker. Edward, 25, 26. 38-85. 

Joseph, 11. 
Baldwin, C. C, 41. 
Mrs., 25. 
Bannister, G. L.. 80. 
Baptists. 45, 51, 52. 
Bass, Gillam, 25. 
Batherick, Jonathan, 28. 
Solomon, 17. 
Baverick, David, 33. 
Bay ley, Mrs., 13. 
Beaman, Dea.. 51. 

Eleazar, 64. 

Beaton, John, 25. 50. 

Beers, Richard. 13. 

Bellows, Hannah, 44. 

Simeon, 62. 



Bigelovv, Timothy, 10. 
Billings. Mrs., 42. 
Bishop, R. F., 18. 
Bixby, Lovett, 18. 
Blake, M. Horatio, 13. 
Bond. Joseph, 25, 35. 
Boynton Mrs. Reuben, 52. 
Breck, Hannah, 41. 
Brigham, Albert B., 58. 

Anna, 7. 9, 46. 

Mrs. Anna, 5. 57. 

Ann«h E , 57. 

Charles, 67. 

Dexter, 57. 

Dexter, 2nd., 58. 

Dexter, P., 58. 

Edmund, 36. 

Elijah. 23, 29, (52. 

Ella C . 58. 

Ephraim, 34. 

Gershom, Family, 48-.")i>. 

John, 5, 39. 

Martha W., 57. 

Moses, 40. 

Nathan. 21, 2.5, 39. 40, 48. .^)y. 

Phinehas, 35. 

Pierpont, 57. 

Samuel. 3, 6, 54, 

Sarah. 40. 

Susannah, 25-28. 

Theodore F , 62. 

Thomas, .S9, 48. 49. 
Brittan, Mrs. Lydia M., 45, 53. 
Broaders. Hiram, 9, 47. 

Hiram L , 47. 



«7 



Broaders, Jacob, 46, 47. 
Browu, N. Porter, 18. 
Bryant, Alfred, 64. 
Noyes, 64. 
Wealthy. 64. 
Buck. Charles M., 58. 
Ballard. Martin, 18. 
Bnmpso, Sam, 33. 
Burnap, A J., 30. 
Burnham, G H., 12. 

Snsanna, 51. 
Carter, Nebemiah, 45. 
Gary, Arthur, 34. 
Chamberlain, John, 46. 

Joshua, 25. 
Luther, 57. 
Nathaniel, 35. 
Champney, Hannah, 20. 
Major, 28 
J^iary, 20. 24, 42. 
Samuel, 20. 
Child, Mrs Emily A., 53. 
Clark, Ben, 25. 
Mrs., 52. 
Cobb. John, 47. 
Coburn, W. A.. 12. 
Cook, Cornelius. 44, 45. 
Costello, J T., 12. 
Crcnicau. Mrs. B. T., 30. 

Patrick, 30. 
Cullock, Joseph, 28. 
Curtis, Dr. William. 21, 23. 
Cashing, Rev. Job. 31. 
Capt. Job, 61. 
Davenport, A., 30. 
Davis, Mrs. G. C, 42. 

Isaac, Family, 6. 8, 9, 46-48, 57. 
Death, Patty, 5. 
Denny. Augusta M., 24, 27. 
George, 27. 
Col. , 61. 
Robert B., 27. 
Dickinson, William, 23. 
Didley, Mrs. Annette B.. 30, 
Eaton, Gov. Theophilus, 39, 
Edwards, Daniel, 32. 

Rev. Jonathan, 32. 51. 



Elmer, Rev. Daniel, 16. 
Fay, Benjamin, 34, 60. 
Cyrus, 12. 
Jasper, 64. 65. 
Jeduthan, 29. 
John. 28, 34, 35, 39. 59. 
Samuel, 17, 26, 39. 
Solomon T., 45. 
Stephen, 38. 
Ferguson, G. A., 41. 
Field, Cyrus W. 64. 
Fields, Mrs. Grace M , 51. 
Fieher, Dean, 65. 

Rev. H. P., 18. 

Mr., 25, 26. 

Nathan, 36. 
Fisk. Sarah S., 65. 
Fitzpatrick, Dennis. 58. 
Fiagg, Hannah, 15. 
Forbes, Daniel, 13, 15. 

Elisha. 12. 15. 

Jonathan, Family, 15, 16, 37-43. 
Forbush, Daniel, 16, 17, 43. 

Samuel, Family, 15-19, 42, 44. 
Thomas, Family, 16, 17, 43-45. 
Freeman, Mrs. Otis A., 58. 
Gage, Gov., 35. 

Gale, Abijah, Family, 34, 51, 53-58. 
Gibbs, Jacob, 34. 
Gleason, Mr., 49. 
Goddard, L. M., 39. 
Gooduovv, Isaiah, 59. 
Gould, Anna, 60. 

Mr?. Sarah F., 43. 
Grout, Eliza, 51. 

Jonathan, 84. 

Joseph, 40, 68, 59. 

Mar}, 59. 

Mehttabel, 40. 

Moses, 62. 

Seth, 51. 

Susan, 51. 
Haley. Patrick, 45. 
Hancock, Mr., 25. 
Hardy, Constantine, 4. 

Hannah, 49. 

Lucy, 49. 



Hard}-, Mindwell. 61. 

Susan M , 61-63. 
William F., 61. 
Harrington, Edmund, 18. 
Francis, 59. 
Josepb, 33, 62. 
Rebecca, 13. 
Mrs. Sally. 18 
Samuel, 33. 
Harris, Rufus, 30. 
Haskell, Family, 50-53. 
Hawes, Jame.-*, 35, 36, 45, 5 

Mary L., 53. 
Hemenway, Jonas, 61. 
HilJs. David, 25. 
Holbrook, Daniel, 51, 52. 

Levi, 51. 
Holmes, R. G.. 23. 
Holyoke, President, 31, 33. 
How, Samuel, 13. 
Howe, A. M., 30. 
Luke, 18. 
Silas, 18. 
Hunter, Col., 64. 
Hutchinson, Gov., 35. 
Jack Straw Hill, 13, 13. 
Johnson, G. H., 47. 

Nathan. 10, 
Judson, Rev. Adonivam, 23. 
Kanuse, Lavinia, 65. 
Keeue, Joseph, 34, 35. 
Kelly, Mrs , 35. 
Kittredge, Rev. C. B., 39, 40. 
C. Brigham. 40, 41 
Knowlton, Judge, 61. 
N. M., 38. 
Susanna, 61. 
Lamson, Mr., 28. 
Lane, Michael, 21. 
Leach, Mrs. Maria D. P.. 30. 
Leland, Orlando. 23. 
Library, started. 25. 
Lloyd. Dr. James, 11. 
Longfellow, Messrs., 51. 
Lock, President, 34. 
Loring, Joshua, 7. 
Lovell, Edwin H,, 23. 



Lymau School. 3. 6, 18, 47. 
McCorry, C. E. S.. 13. 
McTaggert Farm, 40. 
Mayuard. Amasa, 47. 

Antipas. 4, 9, 46. 
Betty, 47. 
Dorothy, 46, 47. 
John. 3, 4, 7-9, 20. 21, 61. 
Phinehas, 46, 47. 
Stephen, Family. 3-13. 38. 35, 
43. 43, 46. 
2. 53. Mfllen, Mr , 34. 

Memorial Cemetery, 7, 31, 33, 40, 42. 50- 

52. 
Midland Cemetery, 64, 65. 
Miller, Barnabas, 13. 

James, 13. 
Mills, Rev. Edward, 23. 
Morse, Mr., 26. 

Seth, 33, 36. 
Munroe, Asa, 63. 
Nason, Ebial, 64. 
G. W., 12. 
Nestor, John and Anne, 13. 
Newton, Barnabas, 34, 35. 
Catherine, 65. 
Josiah, 4. 
Moses, 15. 
Nancy B., 65. 
Nichols, Fortunatus, 11, 47. 
Joseph, 11. 
Walter F., 49. 
Nurse, Ebenezer. 59. 
Moses, 28, 34. 
Oak, Nathaniel, 16. 
Parker, Tim.. 34. 

Parkman, Breck. Family, 13, 24-30, 
35-37, 41. 
Charles B., 41. 

Diary. 4-7, 14. 15, 17, 20-22. 
24-29, 81-37. 41-44, 46, 
47, 49, 55. 
Rev. Ebenezer, Family, 3, 
16. 17, 19-39. 35, 40, 41. 
43, 49. 50. 
Rev. Francis, 41, 43. 
Mrn. Hannah, 11, 14, 24, 81, 
41, 46. 



Parkman, Mrs. Mary, 20, 24. 
Pennell, Mr., 33. 
Percy, Earl. 36. 
Perriman, Rebecca, 44. 
Peters, Beulah, 65. 
Lovett, 18. 
Onslow, 45. 
Philip, Kin?:. 16. 
Fierce, Mrs. E. T., 23. 
Pierpont, Rev. James, 32, 41. 
Pitkin, Col. George, 37. 
Pluff, Louis, 12. 
Pratt, Cornelia L. , 64. 

Eleazar, 69. 
Prescott, J. F., 12. 
Reed, Phebe. 61. 
Restorationists, 18. 
Revolution, 8, 9, 10, 17. 
Rice, Abigail, 16. 

Calvin, 47. 

Dinah, 40. 

Dorcas, 44. 

Dorothy, 46. 

Hannah, 15. 

Jonas & Lewis, 23. 

Mary, 49. 

Perez, 12. 

Seth. 46. 

Silas, 40. 

Thomas, 12. 

Timothy, 40. 
Robinson, Rev. John, 28, 55. 
Rockwood, Rev. E., 22, 28. 
Ryan, J. J., 58. 
Salsbury, Stephen, 34. 
Sanders, Ebenezer, 60. 
Searl, James, 65. 

Mrs. Mindwell, 66, 66. 
Sever, Moses, 26, 
Shattuck. Isaac, 13, 19. 
Smith, Dr.. 43. 

Joseph, 23. 
Snow, Mrs Elizabeth "W., 40, 

Jacob. 25. 
Spring, Mr., 25, 26. 
Stearns, Elam, 18. 
Stevens. W. R., 45. 
Steward, Daniel, 47. 



Stone. Bela J., 7. 

Stowe, Da^'id. 28. 

Taft, Cora, 23. 

Tainter, Simon, Family, 12—15, 21, 31, 

40. 
Taynter, Joseph, 13. 
Temple, Richard, 34. 
Tenny, Abel, 34 
Thomas. Rowland, 32. 
Tombliu, Dea , 6. 46. 
Townshend. Nathan. 34. 
Tuckerman, Mrs. Edward, 48. 
Turnpike, Bos & Wore. 17. 
Tyler, Dr. John E.. 24. 27, 28. 
Wadsworth, Cyrus, 12, 
John, 12, 15. 
Mrs. Persis, 12, 13. 
Mrs. S, Maria, 18. 
Waldo. Daniel, 45. 
Ward, Gen. Artemas, 21, 23. 

Nahum, 59. 
Ware', Asa, 26. 

Beriah, 47. 
Warren, Abner, 53. 
Achsah. 53. 
Joseph, 61, 
Mrs , 14. 
John, 18. 
Warrin, Aaron, 27. 

Timothy, 50. 
Wesson, Silas, 18. 
Wheeler, Samaria, 64. 
Wheelock, Lydia, 52. 

Moses, 52, 53, 62. 
Silas, 61. 
White, Abbie. 26. 
Whitney. Thomas, Family, 58—66. 
Eli, 13, 62. 
Rev. Peter, 27, 46. 
Thomas, 36. 
Willard, Benjamin, 26. 
Winchester, Cousin, 31. 
Wood, Hannah, 15. 
Woods, Abigail, 26. 

Dea. Benjamin, 25—27, 34, 37, 
49. 
York, Alva W., 12. 



70 



